YPR receives Ten Free Trees grant

​Thanks to the Ten Free Trees program, an effort of the Nebraska Forest Service and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, York Parks and Recreation received ten trees for the Parks. 

York’s Park Department has been proactive in the fight against the Emerald Ash Borer and is now including the fight against the Pine Wilt and Blight.  As well as, the recent tree damage from the 2022 hail storms and previous winter conditions.  YPR is gracious for this opportunity to plant new trees for our parks system. 

Despite providing a wide range of social, economic, and environmental benefits, most Nebraska community forests have been in steady and sometimes dramatic decline. Many challenges contribute, including extreme weather, insects, disease, and lack of diversity. The Emerald Ash borer is the latest major challenge added to the list.  

In an effort to stop this decline and increase community forest resilience, the Ten Free Trees program grants up to 10 high quality trees per project for tree-related educational events and community celebrations promoting trees and fall planting. 

In addition to simply planting more trees, the program goals include increasing appreciation and awareness of the significant value of community forests in Nebraska. Special emphasis is placed on species diversity and higher impact projects, especially street tree planting and projects in neighborhoods of highest need. 

Ten Free Trees is supported by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s Trees for Nebraska Towns Initiative, funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust, the USDA Forest Service’s Community Forestry Inflation Reduction Act funding received by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum, and the USDA Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration funding received by the Nebraska Forest Service.