On behalf of residents RSCA has an opportunity to apply for free canopy trees through Arlington County’s Tree Canopy Fund.  This program, via the County’s Grant Review Panel (GRP), pays a landscape contractor to plant sizable trees (up to 2" caliper) on private property in order to increase Arlington’s tree canopy.  Since many residents in our area lost trees during recent winter storms, you may be interested in the program.

Here’s how it works:

  • You email John Roberts, jarroberts@aol.com, RSCA Executive Board member, expressing your interest in having the County’s contractor plant trees on your property.  Please include your Name, address, and the number of canopy trees you are requesting.  Deadline for your email indicating interest in the program is April 1, 2011.
  • RSCA then sends the program administrator, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment(ACE), a letter of intent with a tally of requested trees.  Deadline: April 8, 2011.
  • April-June: GRP contacts RSCA for a pre-application review.
  • July 8, 2011: RSCA’s final application is due with more precise information on species, planting locations and number of trees.
  • July-August: GRP evaluates all grant applications and, if necessary, contacts individuals to discuss feasibility.  
  • September 2011: GRP selects winning projects. 
  • Trees are planted in the fall, installation is coordinated with residents.

For additional information about the program you may visit: http://www.arlingtonenvironment.org/treecanopyfund.htm RSCA hopes that you will take advantage of this opportunity.  While we cannot guarantee that RSCA will actually be awarded a grant, the program appears to be well-funded.  Let’s help keep Rock Spring Green!