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Neighborhood Funding Resources (NFR) has been
working with the City of Ecorse to initiate and oversee implementation of
a Community Forestry Program, and the planning of and development of a City
Greenway System. In 2004, NFR, on behalf of the City of Ecorse, applied
for and received funding from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources
(DNR) Community Forestry Program for planning of Ecorse’s Community
Forestry Program, and also applied for and received a Community Foundation
Grant for Greenway planning. In addition,
a DTE Tree Planting Grant and a DNR Emerald Ash Borer Tree Planting Grant
have been applied for this year and further grants for the construction
of the Greenway will be submitted late this spring. Both projects, the Community
Forestry Program and the Ecorse Greenway Project
are currently in the planning phases. Ecorse
Community Forestry Program:
The Objectives of the Program are as follows:
- To provide education/guidance to the Department of
Public Works (DPW) staff, as well as to a newly created high school
student/parent-led volunteer Forestry Management Team (FMT), and a Community
Build team that will assist and take leadership in the Community Forestry
Program.
- Develop and maintain a tree inventory throughout Ecorse.
Develop a tree planting plan, specifically targeting the Ecorse Creek
and Detroit River Greenways, 20 acres of current parkland and up to
110 acres of newly created parks planned for the City of Ecorse over
the next fiveyears. An additional focus in the early years will be the
six major artery entrances to the city, as part of a city-wide beautification
and welcoming plan at the city’s “Gateways.”
- To form a volunteer led Community Tree Board (CTB)
to oversee the work envisioned in the plan and to be an ongoing repository
of knowledge and education on Community Forestry issues.
- To work with the CTB on Tree Ordinance development
and a system of procedures, particularly on issues of hazard tree management,
disease, invasive species and sustainable practices.
- To create a public reporting and response mechanism
overseen by the CTB and the DPW that uses the FMT. It implements tree
care and tree protection programs on Public Lands and also assists private
landowners with problems and opportunities on private lands within the
city.
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