Norwalk seeks neighborhood tree liaisons

Norwalk is looking for volunteer tree liaisons to oversee the growth of the woodsy greenery in most of the city's neighborhoods.

 

    Only four of the city's 18 neighborhood associations have active liaisons now.

 

    One of them, Nick Overall in the Eastern Norwalk Neighborhood Association, was recognized last May as Norwalk's first Tree Advocate of the Year.

    The others are Mike Mushak of the Golden Hill Association, Gay Macleod of the Western Norwalk Association and Diane Witkowsky of the Spring Hill/Hospital Area Neighborhood Association.

    "We can't roll back time and save the natural landscape we've already lost," Witkowsky says, "but we can plant new trees and promote reforestation."

    The tree liaisons are trained to identify the sites in their neighborhoods for improving the streetscape. They develop plans for plantings, help neighbors to select the appropriate species of trees, report illegal cutting and coordinate with the utility companies the tree trimming near power lines.

    They are given staking kits to mark planting sites and an 85-page illustrated guidebook listing 35 species of trees and 15 popular shrubs. The book is a scientific and practical how-to compendium of facts, figures and photos assembled by the City of Norwalk, the Norwalk Tree Alliance and the Norwalk Tree Advisory Committee.

    About 20,000 of the trees inside Norwalk's perimeter are on city-owned land, the remainder on private property.

    Hal Alvord, Norwalk's tree warden and public works director, says: "So effective arrangements can be made for the ongoing care of those trees, wherever possible, when trees are planted on city property with municipal funding, we encourage the liaisons to collaborate with the residents whose land adjoins the city-owned land."

    The Norwalk Tree Alliance headed by Dave Tracy and the Tree Advisory Committee headed by Don Nelson are also members of the city's active arboreal partnership. In recognition of its work to restore the urban forest, Norwalk has been designated by the U.S. Arbor Day Foundation as "Tree City USA" for the fifth consecutive year, one of 15 communities in Connecticut to achieve the designation. 

    What defines the value of Norwalk's trees?

   Trees anchor the urban ecology/landscape/environment. They enhance the social fabric of neighborhoods, beautifying the landscape with their foliage and stateliness. They increase property values and provide energy savings. They add to public revenue, attracting businesses and tourists. They cool the streets and temper the urban heat by diffusing the sun's reflection and proving shade..

They filter impurities from the air by trapping dust and converting  CO2 to oxygen. They make for more efficient stormwater management, helping to prevent soil erosion and flooding. They yield fruit and sustenance for birds and wildlife. They define property lines. They serve as fences and provide windbreaks. And they are planted as memorials and monuments. 

   Anyone interested in volunteering to become a tree liaison can obtain additional information by contacting Tree Warden Hal Alvord or Deputy Tree Warden Paul Sotnik at 203) 854-7791.

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