News
November 13, 2019Capital Roots Plants 50 Trees in the City of Watervliet
Capital Roots, a local organization focused on access to fresh food and green spaces, planted 50 bare-root trees across 24 different areas in Watervliet on Thursday, Nov. 7 to beautify city streets. The organization spearheaded the project through its Urban Greening program, founded in 1989, which aims to create mutually beneficial relationships between city neighborhoods and the environment for cleaner air, reduced energy costs and increased property values.
Working alongside the City of Watervliet, the organization’s staff was joined by 25 volunteers from the Watervliet Tree Committee, Bergmann Associates, the Watervliet Senior Citizen Center, TD Bank and Cornell Cooperative Extension to assist with Capital Roots’ first planting in Watervliet. The planting was made possible by a TD Green Space grant, funded by TD Bank and administered by the Arbor Day Foundation.
The teams gathered at Pershing Green Memorial Park on 2nd Avenue for a tree planting demonstration led by Capital Roots’ Healthy Communities Coordinator Calvin MacDowell. Capital Roots’ CEO Amy Klein, Watervliet City Mayor Mike Manning and TD Bank Vice President & Senior Relationship Manager Michael Wade kicked off the demonstration with remarks about the importance of urban greening before sending the volunteers across the city to plant the trees.
“We’re glad to be celebrating our 30th year of tree planting in a new city,” said Capital Roots’ Chief Executive Officer Amy Klein. “These tree plantings are fundamental in building community pride, and with the continuation of our Urban Greening program, we hope to keep expanding this program to other cities and towns that have not yet been served.”
“Capital Roots’ commitment to working with the city to improve food access and urban livability for all residents of Watervliet is an invaluable asset to our community,” said Watervliet Mayor Mike Manning. “This partnership continues our long-standing approach to reduce greenhouse gases as well as continue to beautify the city.”
“TD’s Green Space grant supports municipal initiatives to create healthier more resilient communities,” said TD Bank Vice President & Senior Relationship Manager Michael Wade. He explained TD Bank’s goal to plant 1,000,000 new trees in North America by 2030, and thanked volunteers and organizers for coming out and contributing to that goal.
Despite the rain, volunteers set out across the city to plant trees in both parks and urban locations including outside Watervliet resident’s homes.
“Events like this allow me the opportunity to feel connected with my community while helping to shape the future by creating a healthy environment,” said TD Bank Field Marketing Manager and volunteer Francine Yanulavich.
“Our day-to-day work as engineers, architects and planners revolves around building structures and spaces for the people in our communities, and volunteering our time is a natural extension of the local connections we’ve created,” said Bergmann Associates Corporate Communications Manager Stacy Lake.
“At this time, when climate change is in progress, it is particularly important to plant as many trees as possible because they are nature’s ultimate climate regulator and will help mitigate the urban heat island effect that Watervliet experiences every summer,” said Watervliet Tree Committee member and volunteer Lois Gundrum. “We are grateful to Capital Roots for obtaining this grant and grateful to TD Bank for funding it.”
