The City of San Diego will soon be looking a little greener thanks to funds from a $750,000 grant.
The city plans to plant 1,800 new trees using funds from the CAL FIRE Urban & Community Forestry Program. The project may help San Diego reach its Climate Action Plan goal.
A new study shows that 13 percent of San Diego is covered with trees. The goal is to increase that number to 15 percent by the year 2020.
Sherman Heights resident Peter Smith supported the project.
“Trees are always good for the air, so it’s definitely a good thing. We need more trees instead of cutting them down,” Smith said.
Mayor Kevin Faulconer was on hand Thursday as he announced the project and then helped to plant a Modesto Ash.
Five hundred trees will be planted in Sherman Heights, Lincoln Park, Grantville and other neighboring communities. Residents will see the trees along Market Street, Imperial Avenue, Ocean View Boulevard, 25th Street and 47th Street.
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“Trees help to reduce our carbon footprint, but more importantly they contribute to beautiful, walkable neighborhoods and communities,” Cody Hooven, the City’s Chief Sustainability Officer said in a city news release.
“The fact that they're going to you know take the initiative to plant some trees and make it a little greener it a really, really good idea,” said resident Carla Zuniga.
The funds will also be used to hire consultants to look at current trees lining San Diego streets.
