Community Canopy tree giveaway program returns | City of Sarasota

 

 

City of Sarasota

 

 

Sarasota, FL:  The City’s free tree giveaway program, Community Canopy, returns at midnight Sunday, Oct. 4, with contactless registration and delivery, allowing residents in the city limits to safely receive a free tree during the coronavirus pandemic while helping to expand the urban canopy and reducing energy bills.

 

In partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, the City will provide 250 trees to residents at no cost.

 

Starting at the stroke of midnight, Sunday, Oct. 4 (transitioning into early Monday morning), City residents can reserve their free trees at www.ArborDay.org/Sarasota.   Please note: Access to the website will become available at midnight on Sunday, Oct. 4.

 

On the website, residents can use a calculator tool to estimate the annual energy savings from planting a tree in the most strategic location on their property. Participants are expected to care for the tree and plant it in the location specified by the online tool.

 

Four species of native trees sourced from Florida will be offered:

  • Red maple
  • Bald cypress
  • Live oak
  • Sweet bay magnolia

 

One tree per household can be reserved during the giveaway. Each tree will be delivered to City of Sarasota residents in a one-gallon container.

 

“Not only do trees help clean our air and water and reduce the effects of climate change, but they’ve also been proven to help reduce stress and improve mental health,” said Sustainability Program Educator Jeff Vredenburg. “Now more than ever, we’re thrilled to again be partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation to make Sarasota greener, healthier and more beautiful.”

 

Since 2017, more than 1,100 trees have been planted through the Community Canopy program, boosting the urban canopy, cleaning air and removing pollutants, filtering stormwater and helping with climate mitigation and adaptation efforts.

 

The program is funded by the City’s tree replacement fund, which collects a portion of tree removal permit dollars to be used for urban canopy protection programs.

 

For more information, contact the Arbor Day Foundation at 855-234-3801.