West Side Tree Planting – Spring 2025

The project will plant two-hundred ninety-five, 2-inch caliper trees along the road right-of-way, and thirty trees at the Parker Bennett Curry elementary school.  ReTree Bowling Green will provide instruction to the elementary students on the importance of trees, their benefits, and their care.  Funding for this project provided by the Inflation Reduction Act and the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program in partnership with the Kentucky Division of Forestry.

This project will address several issues including:

• Environmental – the trees will improve the air quality through intercepting particulate matter on plant surfaces and absorbing gaseous pollutants. Planted along the roadways they will aid in the removal of carbon dioxide. Planted near the water treatment plant they will not only assist in cleaning the air, they will also act and a natural wind barrier and redirect the unpleasant odor from the water treatment plant that currently blows over this area of town.
• Shade and cooling – the trees will provide much needed shade along the roadways so that pedestrians and cyclists can enjoy the area and increase their outside activity. The residential lots are small, and many homes do not have any trees, thus increasing their summer cooling costs.
• Economic development – the area is unattractive, with an industrial appearance. Several field warehouses are located in the area, as well as trucking hubs. Bowling Green’s other sections of town have unaffordable rent for startup businesses, leaving this area of town as one of the few affordable commercial locations. By planting trees and improving the appearance of the area customers are more likely to visit the area and consider businesses located there.
• Educational – by providing the elementary students with knowledge and appreciation for trees and what they do for the environment they will be more likely to desire and care for the vegetation. Teaching them to properly care for trees will carry into their adulthood and will make them better stewards of our trees and forests.
• Health – the trees will provide cleaner air, a cooler environment, a more pleasant environment to play, walk, and ride bicycles. The trees will provide shade to the school playground and campus, ensuring that children and teachers are shielded from the sun’s rays and heat.
• Community pride – the residents of the area will become proud of the area. It will be more attractive and may encourage other actions such as housing maintenance, commercial maintenance, and private investment. Homeowners and landlords may invest in landscaping and yard maintenance in response to the investment in the area.
• Greenway improvement – there are sections of the City’s greenway that are not green. They pass through heavily commercial areas with field warehouses, lots covered in machinery, and other areas of neglect. Planting trees will encourage people to use the greenways and help to keep them clean.