Scranton---Tree City USA? (Williamsport, Kingston, Nanticoke: 2009, power lines, how much)

[ScranBarre]

Hello everyone!

I've recently begin to perform some more in-depth research on the topic of urban forestry, and I must say that I see tremendous potential for Scranton, the Electric City, to join the growing ranks of U.S. cities that have a "Tree City USA" designation. One can never underestimate the value that neighborhoods replete with shade trees and other vegetation can have on the city's overall health. For starters, trees are a good way to combat the urban greenhouse effect by removing toxins from our air and replacing them with beneficial oxygen. Trees also help to absorb excess moisture to lessen the effects of water runoff, enhance property values, calm traffic speeds, and boost civic pride. You also can't deny that walking your golden retriever or pushing a stroller along a sidewalk beneath a leafy green canopy with song birds overhead is much preferable to a neighborhood devoid of green space.

I may only be 20, but I'm doing the best I can to familiarize myself with various city neighborhoods, so I'd appreciate it if so many people would please stop telling me to "shut up" because of my age. I can see the potential to use this year to further research, analyze, brainstorm, recruit volunteers, fund-raise, etc. for the "Scranton Goes Green" effort I hope to launch on Arbor Day 2008---the goal of which will be to hold a major celebration on Arbor Day 2009 to announce the inclusion of Scranton on the national register as an official "Tree City USA." I also hope to at some point this year approach city council about the formation of a volunteer "Shade Tree Commission" which would be responsible for keeping a database of every shade tree in the city (location, species, age, condition, etc.), as well as conducting regular inspections of each tree to search for signs of weakening, blight, or a need for pruning or other routine maintenance. This commission should consist of a blend of arborists, landscape architects, and various others who are knowledgeable about trees.

This effort will face many challenges, the most-daunting of which will be the issue of balancing residents' needs for on-street parking vs. slightly narrowing sidewalks and on-street parking space to accomodate new tree lawns in city neighborhoods. The Hill Section benefits greatly from the north-south streets having rear-alley access for off-street parking behind homes, which makes tree lawns here quite feasible. I consider much of South Side and West Side, in general, to be "ugly" and "bland" because both neighborhoods are nearly devoid of greenery. Nevertheless, some "alternatives" may be able to be established, such as razing blighted properties here or there to create neighborhood surface parking lots to ease the on-street parking issue and/or using that lot instead exclusively for green space and keeping on-street parking conditions undisturbed. Other issues that may arise are conflicts with utility companies about the new trees vs. overhead power lines, the potential for root systems to fail if they are obstructed by underground impediments such as water mains or sewers, the issue of some residents being opposed to the notion of having additional front-lawn leaves to rake up, etc.

Nevertheless, I think this effort would likely have more supporters than detractors. I'm also aware that such efforts would likely be quite costly---I plan to contact various other current local "Tree City USA" communities, including Waverly, Lewisburg, East Stroudsburg, Kingston, Forty Fort, West Pittston, Williamsport, and Jermyn, among others, to inquire about their financial statuses. What fund-raising methods were successful? Were they able to obtain beneficial grants? Did the municipality itself financially-contribute towards their efforts? Did they get local media involved (as I plan to as the year progresses and the weather improves)?

What say you all? Should I pursue this ambitious endeavor, or should I "just shut up because you're 20 and don't live in the city", as so many others love to tell me whenever I come up with such "stupid" ideas? Your input on this matter would be greatly-appreciated! Thanks!

[DeLorean]

sounds like a great idea. Nanticoke and Plymouth both hardly have any trees, it's one of the things that would really spruce up the place

[MermanMike]

Nice idea! Actualize your dream! And as for the opposition, usually nothing worth while ever gets done without a significant resistance standing in the way. Remember how the Eiffel Tower was received by the French in 1889--jeers, disdain, called an eyesore. A lot of people find change very disturbing and happily volunteer to be the critics of progressive thinkers. Get used to it now!

[Retired Law 08]

great idea, you may be 20 but you are way a head of your time, you have helped me and others on this forum with great info, i think it is a great idea

[mechtm84]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

Hello everyone!

I've recently begin to perform some more in-depth research on the topic of urban forestry, and I must say that I see tremendous potential for Scranton, the Electric City, to join the growing ranks of U.S. cities that have a "Tree City USA" designation. One can never underestimate the value that neighborhoods replete with shade trees and other vegetation can have on the city's overall health. For starters, trees are a good way to combat the urban greenhouse effect by removing toxins from our air and replacing them with beneficial oxygen. Trees also help to absorb excess moisture to lessen the effects of water runoff, enhance property values, calm traffic speeds, and boost civic pride. You also can't deny that walking your golden retriever or pushing a stroller along a sidewalk beneath a leafy green canopy with song birds overhead is much preferable to a neighborhood devoid of green space.

I may only be 20, but I'm doing the best I can to familiarize myself with various city neighborhoods, so I'd appreciate it if so many people would please stop telling me to "shut up" because of my age. I can see the potential to use this year to further research, analyze, brainstorm, recruit volunteers, fund-raise, etc. for the "Scranton Goes Green" effort I hope to launch on Arbor Day 2008---the goal of which will be to hold a major celebration on Arbor Day 2009 to announce the inclusion of Scranton on the national register as an official "Tree City USA." I also hope to at some point this year approach city council about the formation of a volunteer "Shade Tree Commission" which would be responsible for keeping a database of every shade tree in the city (location, species, age, condition, etc.), as well as conducting regular inspections of each tree to search for signs of weakening, blight, or a need for pruning or other routine maintenance. This commission should consist of a blend of arborists, landscape architects, and various others who are knowledgeable about trees.

This effort will face many challenges, the most-daunting of which will be the issue of balancing residents' needs for on-street parking vs. slightly narrowing sidewalks and on-street parking space to accomodate new tree lawns in city neighborhoods. The Hill Section benefits greatly from the north-south streets having rear-alley access for off-street parking behind homes, which makes tree lawns here quite feasible. I consider much of South Side and West Side, in general, to be "ugly" and "bland" because both neighborhoods are nearly devoid of greenery. Nevertheless, some "alternatives" may be able to be established, such as razing blighted properties here or there to create neighborhood surface parking lots to ease the on-street parking issue and/or using that lot instead exclusively for green space and keeping on-street parking conditions undisturbed. Other issues that may arise are conflicts with utility companies about the new trees vs. overhead power lines, the potential for root systems to fail if they are obstructed by underground impediments such as water mains or sewers, the issue of some residents being opposed to the notion of having additional front-lawn leaves to rake up, etc.

Nevertheless, I think this effort would likely have more supporters than detractors. I'm also aware that such efforts would likely be quite costly---I plan to contact various other current local "Tree City USA" communities, including Waverly, Lewisburg, East Stroudsburg, Kingston, Forty Fort, West Pittston, Williamsport, and Jermyn, among others, to inquire about their financial statuses. What fund-raising methods were successful? Were they able to obtain beneficial grants? Did the municipality itself financially-contribute towards their efforts? Did they get local media involved (as I plan to as the year progresses and the weather improves)?

What say you all? Should I pursue this ambitious endeavor, or should I "just shut up because you're 20 and don't live in the city", as so many others love to tell me whenever I come up with such "stupid" ideas? Your input on this matter would be greatly-appreciated! Thanks!

Why are you so upsessed with Scranton? The city is a dump. Tell your city to fix the damn roads, along with I-84. Either that or just start over. Last time I went through there I almost didn't make it out alive with all of the potholes and gangs...

[knoxfd]

mechtm84 ,
Why do you care if he is obsessed with Scranton? I think what he is trying to do is positive. He is a 20 year old who is trying to improve a city that needs improving. I don't see the harm in that.

[rascalbonsai]

If you decide to go ahead with your plans here a link that may be helpful with grants: http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/pucfc/grants.html

[mechtm84]

Originally Posted by weluvpa

Mechtm84 why would you make a stupid statement like that? First I-84 is not in Scranton and by the way its a state highway,

Wrong. I-84 is a federally funded highway. You also said another stupid thing. If it was a state highway, it would be the state's job to fix it which would make your argument invalid in the first place. I meant to say the I-81/84 interchange at Scranton. Technically, it's not the state's job to repair interstates, but Scranton needs to fix their roads. I'm also talking about the streets in Scranton.

second the comment about the gangs is a joke, although we do have a gang problem its not like you say, and maybe you should do us all a favor and do not comment on what you do not know.

Wrong again. How is the comment a joke when it is true? You DO have a gang problem, therefore, it is not a joke. Apparently I know more than you and you're trying to call me out??? You need to get your facts straight and right.

Originally Posted by knoxfd

mechtm84 ,
Why do you care if he is obsessed with Scranton? I think what he is trying to do is positive. He is a 20 year old who is trying to improve a city that needs improving. I don't see the harm in that.

You're right, the city needs more people to be upsessed in the sesspool to improve it. If he wants to improve the city, why doesn't he run for public office and try to do something about it other than wasting time here? The city needs a better budget balance and police force in order to attract new residents.

[knoxfd]

mechtm84


You are correct. I can see how your ranting on the city-data forum is going to help Scranton. At least SWB has a plan.

[ScranBarre]

WeLuvPA, you once again make some very valid points. From what I can tell, most other towns I researched have volunteer shade comissions and do fund-raisers to purchase new plants and pay for various other resources. Knowing how financially-distressed the city is, I'd never even consider asking Scranton City Council for a grant of any kind to put an even further burden on the taxpayers. However, I may decide to approach the Lackawanna County Commissioners, who seem to enjoy loosening their pursestrings for every other pork barrel project you could think of (Hooters Air, Paul Sorvino's film, etc.) If they were willing to fork over hundreds of thousands of your hard-earned tax dollars for the failed Hooters Air project at the airport, then they'll have to justify turning down a much smaller grant that could have a positive impact on the county's cornerstone city.

I stand by my wish to bring at least some trees to West Side and especially South Side. You wouldn't believe the major positive benefits that well-kept tree lawns could have on improving the quality-of-life for people in these neighborhoods. As I said, this year will be little more than just brainstorming, researching, number-crunching, recruiting volunteers, identifying proper species for plantings, etc. If after all of my field work I determine the shade tree project to not be feasible, then I won't pursue it any further. Just try to imagine some of the streets in South Side lined with those beautiful trees that dominate both Green Ridge and the Hill Section, and then imagine just how much more attractive that part of town will become. When people view their neighborhoods as being scenic, they'll be more inclined to spruce up their properties, do some front yard landscaping, take more daily walks/jogs, etc.

This is something I'd really love to pursue, but I'm not going to rush into it. I have tomorrow and Sunday off from work; I plan to hit up Barnes & Noble and/or Borders tomorrow morning to try to find some books/magazines on the subject of urban forestry, and I also plan to buy a new binder tomorrow to hold the information I'll be printing off of these helpful links that others have so graciously posted on this thread and another I started in the "Garden" forum about this same topic. I've always loved seeing trees in urban areas; it's a perfect way to give city folks a great "breath of fresh air." This is part of the allure that the Hill Section has over me; I just can't fathom not being within a mile walking distance of Nay Aug Park (even if the freakin' blizzard just destroyed the Hanlon Amphitheater!) The only real issue I'm still hitting a roadblock with is how you correctly brought up the possibility that the city may lose much-needed tax revenue if a few blighted properties are razed for surface parking lots to help free up on-street areas for tree lawns along certain blocks. I tend to think that the rise in property values associated with the loss of the blight and the inclusion of the new trees will counterbalance the loss of the taxpaying parcels of land, but I could be mistaken. As I said, this is just a preliminary idea of mine, and I'll continue to research and "work out the kinks!"