The City of Niagara Falls is planting 54 new trees at two local schools and two city parks, part of an $84,970 project to expand shade and strengthen the urban tree canopy in neighbourhoods that need it most.
The city is partnering with the Niagara Catholic District School Board on the plantings, according to a City of Niagara Falls media release.
Half of the project's cost is covered by a $42,480 grant from the federal government, delivered through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities' Growing Canada's Community Canopies initiative. The city is contributing the remaining $42,490.
Sites chosen with equity in mind
Locations were selected using an equity-based approach that weighs existing tree cover alongside vulnerable youth populations, the release said. The focus is on schools and parks where added shade can make the biggest difference for students and residents.
Rather than small saplings, the project calls for larger, more mature trees that provide immediate shade and stand up better to the wear and tear of schoolyards. Species will be chosen based on local site and soil conditions.
The city has also brought in the Vineland Research and Innovation Centre to advise on soil health, tree health and long-term maintenance. According to the release, the initiative could eventually expand to other locations and institutions across Niagara.
Part of a national planting effort
Growing Canada's Community Canopies was announced in May 2024 and aims to support the planting of at least 1.2 million trees across the country by the end of March 2031, while offering funding, resources and coaching to communities. It is a $291-million initiative funded by the Government of Canada, delivered by FCM, with capacity building support from Tree Canada.
FCM is proud to support the City of Niagara's transformative tree-planting project. Through the Growing Canada's Community Canopies initiative and with the support of the Government of Canada, we're helping municipalities of every size get the right trees in the ground in the right places, creating cooler streets, cleaner air, and healthier neighbourhoods for decades to come.
FCM President Tim Tierney said in the release.
Whether they are providing shade on a hot summer day, improving local green spaces, or bringing people together outdoors, trees make our communities better places to live. Together, we are helping communities expand their green spaces, providing lasting environmental and community benefits. The trees being planted will provide greater shade and comfort, and contribute to a healthier, more resilient and sustainable community.
Secretary of State (Nature) Nathalie Provost said in the release.
FCM's Green Municipal Fund, which manages the canopy initiative, has been financing municipal environmental projects since 2000. The organization says it has helped reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 3.02 million tonnes and contributed $5.6 billion to the national GDP through more than 2,850 approved projects.
Residents with questions about the tree-planting project can contact Erik Nickel, the city's general manager of municipal works, at enickel@niagarafalls.ca.
