BV Cool Trees Initiative Continues To Grows
In a flurry of recent developments, the city of Buena Vista continues to advance its multiple tree initiatives through a multi-year community project, BV Cool Trees.
Funded by a three-year award from the Virginia Department of Forestry that was secured by Boxerwood, the goal of the project is to strengthen the urban canopy in the city while also increasing citizen engagement and youth service-learning.
Now in its second year, the initiative realized several milestones this spring. In the past six weeks, project activities have resulted in several completed tree-planting projects (including the largest so far at Southern Virginia University); the creation of the city’s first citizen tree board; local government proclamation of Arbor Day; increased capacity at the project’s BV tree nursery and the hiring of 14 Parry McCluer High School interns to advance project goals this summer.
“These forward strides could not be possible without ongoing collaboration between the city and public and private entities,” said Elise Sheffield, Boxerwood’s program director and administrator of the BV Cool Trees project. “In fact, these outcomes are the fruit of a highly productive partnership.”
Key to success, she said, is the cando approach of the city, with ongoing support from the office of community development and director Tom Roberts. “Trees bring many benefits,” said Sheffield, “and city leadership is championing that. In addition to helping with erosion, stormwater and cooling, well-tended trees bring beauty and vitality to downtown areas. It’s exciting to see the city endorse and advance this good work.”
The $93,000 project has enabled Boxerwood to provide educational and technical expertise at no cost to the city as well as purchase trees and materials. The SVU planting, for example, arose after Boxerwood facilitation between SVU staff, students and university leaders.
“The mission of our non-profit is to educate and inspire people of all ages to become successful stewards of the Earth,” she said, noting how these interests dovetail with community needs. “The grant enabled us to provide the trees for the SVU hillside planting without cost, and getting college students involved in planting increased their stewardship commitments.”
This spring Boxerwood also provided additional treeplanting opportunities for all Buena Vista fourth-graders, who potted up almost 100 native seedlings for the project’s grow-out nursery located at Enderly Heights Elementary School. The project also anticipates another 100 trees for the nursery with upcoming help from Parry McCluer Middle School students.
PMHS ecology students, meanwhile, helped plant four new river birches in front of the municipal building this month, as part of the city’s long-planned landscaping improvements. These larger trees were also purchased with grant funds, which come from both state and federal (Inflation Reduction Act) sources.
Tree-planting, however, is only part of the project. Equally important, said Sheffield, is building citizen support and understanding for these green infrastructure initiatives.
To that end, Buena Vista City Council formally created the city’s first tree board last month. Common to many municipalities, this advisory group undertakes various community tree stewardship responsibilities. Appointed to staggered terms are Buena Vista residents Krista Carter, Ron Cash, Teresa Ellison, Sam Hirt, Tim Petrie and Michelle Poluikis, with non-voting, technical advising provided for the duration of the grant by Boxerwood Garden steward and arborist Karen Stanley.
During the same April 25 meeting, City Council also adopted the city’s first Arbor Day proclamation, noting the value of trees for economic and societal benefits, and urging “all citizens to plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.”
The annual recognition of Arbor Day along with an active tree board are two essential steps toward Buena Vista earning recognition as a “Tree City USA,” said Roberts, explaining that future designation can open up additional funding opportunities and benefits. “We’re very pleased by the progress of this partnership,” he said. Roberts anticipates additional tree plantings and even a community tree give-away this fall.
Sheffield too is optimistic. “We just finished recruiting BV teens for a second season of paid summer employment with the project,” she said, “and the interest was phenomenal.”
Grant funds are able to support 60 hours of work/learn opportunity for 14 teens this summer, yet demand for the positions was almost twice that.
“Many teens are eager to make a difference for their hometown,” said Sheffield. “We’re really grateful resources from the state as well as the federal IRA funding have enabled us to create these opportunities with Buena Vista.”
For more information about the project, visit the project website, www.bvcooltrees. org. Property owners within the city interested in planting more trees on their land can also register their interest at this site.
NEW TREES for a refurbished city playground on 34th street were planted this spring in cooperation with the Southern Virginia University Student Government.
PMHS students from Jessie Moala’s Ecology class visited the municipal building April 24 to assist the city with longplanned landscaping improvements. The four native river birches planted by the students were purchased with grant funds from the BV Cool Trees project.
