Explanation
Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to enter into a grant agreement with the Ohio Department of Natural Resource (ODNR) for the Urban Forestry Grant Program. This ordinance will also authorize the appropriation of the grant in the amount of $500,000.00.
The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) solicited competitive proposals for the Urban Forestry grant program and the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department submitted the grant application in December 2023. This Urban Forestry grant is a reimbursable grant that supports long-term growth and development of local urban and community forest programs. A requirement of the program is a focus on disadvantaged communities defined by The Council on Environmental Quality’s Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST).
The goals of the Urban Forestry Grant Program align with the City’s Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP). ODNR awarded $500,000.00 to the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department for tree plantings within the project area. The City intends to utilize these grant funds to plant approximately 1,250 large-class street trees. The plantings will directly support the UFMP goal of investing in equitable canopy across all neighborhoods by 2030, focusing on neighborhoods with low tree canopy and high social equity needs. The census tracts identified for planting through the Climate and Economic Justice screening tool are also ranked as either high or very high priorities in the UFMP Social Equity Needs Index, meaning these tracts have low tree canopy and high need for new trees.
Principal Parties:
Ohio Department of Natural Resources
2045 Morse Road, Building H-1
Columbus, Ohio 43229
Carrie Morrow, (614) 265-6509
Contract Compliance Number: 005089
Contract Compliance Expiration Date: N/A (State of Ohio Agency)
Benefits to the Public: Trees provide tangible benefits to Columbus...
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