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Call for Volunteers: Tree Planting on Fairmount Avenue

Please see volunteer information below:

Date/Time: Friday, October 1, 2021 from 8:45 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. At 9:00 a.m. NJ Tree Foundation staff will demonstrate how to plant trees.

Location: Fairmount Avenue, Newark, NJ 07103. We will start off at 180-182 Fairmount Avenue.
Apparel: Clothes you do not mind getting dirty and closed-toed shoes
Tools & Equipment: Gloves and tools will be provided
Food: Water will be provided. Please bring a snack and eat breakfast before coming
COVID-19 Precautions: Please wear a mask if you are not vaccinated. If you are vaccinated, you are not required to wear a mask but please be mindful and considerate of others.

If you can volunteer, PLEASE REGISTER HERE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts: Crystal Wessel, Program Coordinator
Phone: 609-439-1755
Email: cwessel@njtreefoundation.org
Website: www.njtreefoundation.org
NJ Tree Foundation to plant 17 trees on Fairmount Avenue
September 16, 2021 – Newark, NJ – On Friday, October 1st, the New Jersey Tree Foundation will
partner with residents of Fairmount Avenue and the Urban League of Essex County on a
neighborhood beautification project designed to provide environmental and safety benefits for
years to come.

Serviceberries, redbuds, and crabapples will be planted along the street, bringing color and
shade to the block. This project is part of the Urban League of Essex County’s Fairmount
Avenue Streetscape Beautification Project. The Project includes not only planting trees in front
of homes, but installing rain gardens, replacing sidewalks with porous pavement, installing new
fences and lighting, and general aesthetic improvements. All of these modifications are at no
cost to the homeowners. The overarching goal of this project is to create a safe and welcoming
environment for new and existing residents of Fairmount Avenue, utilizing principles from the
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design method, which aims to dissuade criminal
activity through landscape improvements while also improving the ecosystem.
“One of the biggest benefits of trees, especially in urban areas, is their ability to manage
stormwater,” said Crystal Wessel, Renaissance Tree Program coordinator for the NJ Tree
Foundation, “Newark has a combined sewer system, which means that when heavy rain events
cause the system to overflow, sewage and stormwater are combined and can flood out into the
street, creating a major human health hazard.”

Trees work to absorb stormwater, helping to mitigate flooding and lessen the burden on the
sewer system, reducing the likelihood of an overflow. The rain gardens that the trees are
planted in for this project are designed to funnel water from the street into the tree pit to
reduce runoff, and contain flowers and small shrubs that absorb additional rainwater. Porous
pavement will also help to reduce runoff by allowing rainwater to infiltrate the pavement.
Green infrastructure projects such as trees are particularly useful because they have benefits
that extend beyond stormwater. Researcher Kathleen Wolf has studied the benefits of trees on
human health for years, finding that the presence of trees can help to reduce stress and anxiety
and increase happiness. They bring life and color to a block, and create shady places for people
to relax under. Trees work to filter out pollutants from the air and water, making breathing
easier for everyone and improving watershed health. They also provide wildlife habitat for
critters such as birds and squirrels, and are a food source for pollinators such as bees and
butterflies.

Streetscape improvements such as trees, fencing, and lighting can turn an area from simply
another street into a neighborhood. Earl Sweeney, a Fairmount Avenue resident who has lived
on the block through all aspects of the Beautification Project, has already seen a change in the
block. “It wasn’t someplace you’d want to raise your kids,” Earl said, referring to Fairmount
Avenue prior to the Urban League’s involvement. “Since they’ve been revitalizing and building
new houses on the block, a lot has changed…the block is looking cleaner, it’s feeling like more
of a neighborhood where you want to get to know your neighbors. People are coming outside
more now!” With the addition of trees and further beautification efforts, Fairmount Avenue is a
place that people are proud to call home.
About NJ Tree Foundation

The NJ Tree Foundation is a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees in
New Jersey’s most underserved neighborhoods, where the need is greatest. Through tree
planting, volunteerism, and partnerships, the NJ Tree Foundation assists numerous
communities in improving their environment and quality of life. The NJ Tree Foundation
celebrated its 20-year anniversary in 2018 and has planted over 253,879 trees across the state
since inception. Learn more at www.njtrees.org.
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