Have a party and plant a tree — that's the idea behind a Coquitlam 125 project that will see more than 100 trees take root during neighbourhood block parties this summer.
This week, the city learned it had received a $25,000 grant from Tree Canada and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation for the Neighbourhood Tree Days Program.
"This is really great news. There were only 13 communities out of 140 that applied that got the grant and we were one of them," said Lanny Englund, the city's urban forestry and parks services manager.
Englund said the TD Green Streets grant will be used to provide trees that people can plant in their neighbourhoods as a legacy to celebrate Coquitlam's 125th birthday.
People filling out the application on the city's website for a 125 Block Party can also tick a box to participate in the Neighbourhood Tree Days Program.
Successful applicants will be visited by a city worker who will look at options and recommend a tree to be planted. Englund said the tree could be on private property or a boulevard, with the goal being to plant 125 trees throughout the city.
"We want to plant trees that will have an immediate impact on the neighbourhood and will have a good chance of survival and will really be a legacy of the 125th anniversary," Englund said.
