Township Officials to Plant More Than 2,000 Trees with Grant Money

The Township of Brick has been approved for a grant in the amount of $675,000 from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks and Forestry 2013 Grant Program, which will enable them to plant trees on public lands, according to Brick officials. 

The grant, also known as the "No Net Loss" grant, has been used as funding to pay for plantings of trees at a number of public parks over the past five years.

"This grant will be used to make Brick Township a greener community," Mayor Stephen C. Acropolis said in the statement.  "The best part of it is that it will come at no cost to our taxpayers."

The State of New Jersey provides this funding to offset the loss of vegetation due to State construction projects. The most recent funding has been provided from the loss of mature trees along the Garden State Parkway due to the expansion project.

"We plan on using some of this grant to plant trees in the Evergreen Woods development that has been impacted by the Parkway construction project," said Acropolis.  "We have heard from residents of that community about how their quality of life has been impacted by the project, particularly due to increased sound from the loss of trees.  We intend on planting trees to restore a natural sound barrier for those citizens."

In some cases, the funds can be used on privately owned lands if an agreement for planting and maintenance is entered into between the property owner, Township and State.  Acropolis indicated that the Township will be discussing this with the Evergreen Woods property management in the near future.

The next step for the Township is to hire a state approved landscape architect or arborist to develop the planting plan. Once the plan is approved by the State of New Jersey, the Township can bid the project and begin planting.  The Township must plant 2,250 trees or $675,000/$300 per tree. The minimum of $300 per tree can include the cost of developing the plan, planting materials, irrigation, and labor.

Brick Township has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the past nine years.  This designation is awarded to municipalities for their commitment to community forestry.