| Photo by Léonard Cotte on Unsplash
JERSEY CITY -To boost quality of life, public health, environmental impacts, and economic opportunities, the city is allocating $3 million in grants for critical environmental improvements. These efforts include Youth Tree Ambassador Programs for community building, workforce development, expanding the Forestry team to sustain and grow the city’s tree canopy, and over 160 tree plantings for beautification, stormwater absorption, and improving public health.
In neighborhoods where additional trees will help with flood mitigation, lower energy costs, improve air quality, and reduce heat-related health concerns, the Fulop administration is apportioning a $2 million grant awarded to Jersey City’s Divisions of Sustainability and Forestry by the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Urban and Community Forestry program, the MLK Drive Green Corridor and Outreach Project will focus on the Jackson Hill corridor along Martin Luther King Drive. Additionally, a grant of over $800,000 from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s Water Quality and Restoration Program will help fund green infrastructure improvements on MLK Drive, including installing rain gardens and bioswales.
“This is an important investment in the future of our city. We will use the grant funding to help pay for over 160 trees and other green infrastructure improvements along Martin Luther King Drive as part of our ongoing work with community partners to help revitalize Jackson Hill into the thriving commercial corridor it once was,” said Mayor Steven M. Fulop. “From improving public health to new economic opportunities, increasing tree cover in urban areas and equitable access to green spaces provides countless benefits for residents, businesses, and the community overall.”
A new equitable tree planting strategy designed for long-term resiliency planning will address mitigating stormwater flooding and urban heat island effects. The grant money will also establish different programs to maintain and expand the city’s urban forestry efforts:
- Hiring and training seasonal workers for Jersey City’s Forestry team, including a Junior Forester and tree maintenance staff.
- Creating paid Youth Tree Ambassador Programs and Workforce Development Workshops to engage residents meaningfully.
The City said it is also working closely with community organizations, such as project partners Sustainable JC and the Jackson Hill Special Improvement District (SID), to begin outreach and educational campaigns to engage key community partners and connect with local small business owners, cultural organizations, residents, and other stakeholders for project development.
Barkha Patel, Director of the Department of Infrastructure, said: “Tree planting and other resiliency projects can often be financially and operationally challenging for cities, but we are committed to prioritizing these efforts, which will result in long-term benefits for our residents, community, environment, economy, and beyond.”