Hanford kicked off a new project last week that will see hundreds of trees planted over the next several years.
The city planted the first tree as part of its Hanford Goes Green Project at the softball complex.
Driving the news: Hanford’s project is funded by a $1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.
- Nearly 400 grants were delivered by the USDA, with Hanford being the only city in the Central Valley to receive one.
The big picture: The Hanford Goes Green Project will plant 600 trees throughout the community and include a comprehensive tree inventory and canopy assessment.
- The project will also include the development of the city’s Urban Forest Master Plan.
- Hanford selected the softball complex for the first tree because it has thousands of visitors every weekend and has had significant tree loss due to bark beetle damage and drought.
State of play: The organizations that are partnering with the city for the project include Tree Fresno, the Urban Tree Foundation and Sequoia Community Corps, which is a local nonprofit that provides job training and education to young adults.
- Green Latinos is a passthrough partner for the Forest Service and will ensure Hanford’s historically underserved residents are included in the project, the city said in a statement.
What we’re watching: Hanford plans to plant more trees through the project in downtown, the southern portion of the city and in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
What they’re saying: “Hanford is a diverse and growing community with many challenges and needs,” said City Manager Mario Cifuentez. “This urban tree planting project will help the City of Hanford mitigate extreme heat, conserve energy, provide shade, absorb storm water, create wildlife habitat and filter air and water. An urban tree canopy leads to better health outcomes, economic opportunities and jobs and increased property values.”
- USDA Forest Service Chief Randy Moore said urban trees are a boost to public health.
- “On scorching hot days, their canopy can reduce temperatures by approximately 10 lifesaving degrees, which is of great value to communities here in the Central Valley,” Moore said. “The trees planted here at the Hanford Softball Complex will support all those goals for generations to come, especially providing shaded areas for children to play in, which can promote physical and emotional health.”
