Urban Forest Revitalization

The neighborhoods of Utica will be the beneficiaries of an extensive project restoring Utica’s forest canopy beginning this year and proceeding each spring and fall until the end of 2028. The City of Utica is the recipient of a $2 million grant from the USDA for our Urban Forest Revitalization Project. Funds will be used specifically to reforest our urban landscapes in eighteen Justice40 Census Tracts as identified by the Federal Government, New York State and Oneida County. These census tracts fall within the following neighborhoods: Cornhill, East Utica, Center City and West Utica.

Trees provide several benefits. They reduce the carbon dioxide emissions in the area, which would provide you and your neighbor’s cleaner air to breathe. They provide a canopy of shade which, in warmer months, will reduce the heat index on your property. They also increase the property value of your home.

An arborist will assess and inventory trees in these neighborhoods and select new tree planting locations.  We will work closely with service companies to make sure no utilities will be disturbed. The appropriate sites will receive the appropriate trees as determined by our certified arborist. As neighborhoods are assessed, residents within those neighborhoods will receive information about the tree species appropriate for their area and will be invited to submit a request for their choice of tree species. No guarantee is given that their first choice will be available, however we will make every effort to honor a resident’s preference.

We are looking for volunteers to help with outreach, to host us at your church, youth group, or organization, and to learn to plant trees. Tree planting will begin September 13th and will continue for the duration of the autumn season.  Outreach, engagement and tree planting will take place each spring and autumn through December 2028. Please write to us at UticaForestProject@gmail.com or call 315.792.0152 for more information.

If you DO NOT want a tree planted in front of your home or business, please call us at the number above and we will kindly respect your wishes.

We are very grateful to our founding partners for their support of this project:

50Forward

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County

First Circle

Green Utica

Hamilton College

Mohawk Valley Community College

Mohawk Valley Economic Development District, Inc.

Olmsted City of Greater Utica

Oneida County Workforce Development

Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority

 Rotary Club of Utica

 Save Our Streets/ Utica Street Team

 The Center

 The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties

 Unitarian Universalist Church of Utica

 Utica Center for Development

 Utica City School District

 Utica Tree Board