Urban Forest Project aims to map city trees and show their value | Environment

by Heidi Stukkie

That large tree in your yard is worth some money. Next time you’re raking leaves, try to remember that.

More than 1.5 million trees exist within the Grand Rapids city limits. Each of these trees provides value to our community and thanks to the new Urban Forest Project, that value can now be measured in dollars.

The Urban Forest Project is a new initiative ofFriends of Grand Rapids Parks, operating in partnership with the City of Grand Rapids and theGrand Rapids Urban Forestry Committee. The Grand Rapids Community Foundation provided funding to launch the project in December with a $253,825grant to be spread out over two years.

Steve Faber, Executive Director of Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, asks, “How do you provide a different way to talk about the green infrastructure we all take for granted?” 

This question acted as the inspiration for the Urban Forest Project. The goal is to engage the community in growing a larger, healthier urban forest, which is defined as the connected system of trees throughout an urban...

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