Shade trees available for Kelowna homes
Starting Monday, Kelowna residents can apply to purchase a tree through the City’s NeighbourWoods program.
“NeighbourWoods is a popular program that encourages residents to help in ‘greening’ our neighbourhoods by growing and preserving our urban forest,” said Blair Stewart, the city’s urban forestry supervisor.
“With 400 trees available, there is a limit of one tree per household, and we anticipate the program will sell out quickly.”
Interested residents must fill out an application available online at kelowna.ca/environment under NeighbourWoods, or available at City Hall (1435 Water St.) and the Park Services office (1359 KLO Rd.). Applications will be available starting Sept. 19.
Each tree is valued at $100, but is offered for only $30 (taxes included). Participants choose from a list of trees handpicked by the city.
This year’s choices include the Cardinal Royal mountain ash, pyramidal hornbeam, skyline honey locust, snowbird hawthorne and Vanderworlf’s pyramid pine. Information about the tree types can be found under the Frequently Asked Questions posted online at kelowna.ca/environment under NeighbourWoods.
“Currently our tree canopy is around 13 per cent. NeighbourWoods is one program that is helping us work toward our goal of 25 per cent coverage,” said Stewart.
“Trees have many social and economic benefits including improving our air quality and reducing storm water runoff, diminishing climate change and reducing our energy requirements.”
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