Tulsa, OK

Last week, Mayor Kathy Taylor, City Councilor Cason Carter (District 9) and Anna America, Executive Director of Up With Trees, Inc. announced the City’s new initiative to ReGreen Tulsa with 20,000 trees by 2010. The inaugural white bud tree, a Tulsa favorite, was planted at Tulsa’s first park – Owen Park, at the location of Tulsa’s Oldest Existing House.“Our goal is to plant 20,000 trees in the Tulsa community by 2010,” Taylor said. “Thanks to planning completed in 2007 by Councilor Carter and the Tree Advisory Committee we have been able to quickly put together a plan. This plan includes planting trees in public and private areas, as well as neighborhood education on the value and care of trees,” Taylor added.

“Thanks to the generosity of Tulsans, many of whom supported beautification and development of our river, we have raised a $1.5 million challenge grant to apply to this program. We will need $4 million in private dollars over the next three years to reach our goal,” Taylor said.

A key partner, AEP/PSO has agreed to provide $150,000 over the life of the program.

“The fabulous thing about Tulsa is how people come together and private citizens step forward to partner with government,’ Taylor said. “Each ReGreen Tulsa tree costs around $300. We challenge community groups, schools and churches to raise funds for re-greening Tulsa. One way Tulsans can participate in ReGreen Tulsa is by making a contribution to the Tulsa Community Foundation, designating the donation as “ReGreen Tulsa, 20,000 by 2010.”

“During ReGreen Tulsa, trees will be planted throughout the city in city parks, storm retention areas and on rights of way using private funding,” Councilor Carter said. “Another partner, Up With Trees, will assist with plantings in neighborhoods using community volunteers. The NeighborWoods initiative of ReGreen Tulsa will be launched in neighborhoods with the greatest need and will provide trees and tree care education.”

Up With Trees and the Mayor’s office are also working with a coalition of other tree education groups to hold free TreeFairs and educational seminars across the city this spring and throughout the year. Members will continue to work with neighborhoods at a variety of events to get the message out about how to plant and care for trees.

Citizens interested in participating in ReGreen Tulsa as volunteers can visit ReGreen Tulsa online or call Up With Trees at 610-8733.