Yorkton seeks grant for tree planting

YORKTON — The City of Yorkton is hoping to access a grant to facilitate the planting of trees in three locations in the community.

Taylor Morrison, director of recreation and community services with the city, told Yorkton council at its regular meeting Monday there was potential funding through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).

The FCM “has been the national voice of municipal government since 1901. Yorkton is one of the more than 2,100 member municipalities from across Canada, with Councillor Goulden sitting on the FCM board of directors in her capacity as president of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association,” Morrison said.

“In addition to FCM’s advocacy work, they also implement the Green Municipal Fund (GMF), which supports homegrown municipal sustainability and resilience projects.”

One of the GMF initiatives is the Growing Canada’s Community Canopies (GCCC) grant program.

“This program helps communities plant the right type of trees in the right places, bringing multiple benefits to communities. The GCCC program funds up to 50 per cent of eligible costs, which includes capital costs for the purchase of tree planting inventory, new equipment purchases, planting costs for labour and equipment, and other similar costs,” Morrison said.

Morrison explained the city’s parks division has identified three possible planting locations, in addition to currently planned tree planting projects:

• York Landing berm

• Heath Court green space (in York Landing)

• Mayhew Drive and York Road East

“The York Landing locations were identified as minimal planting has occurred in that subdivision. Some planting has been completed on the berm separating the residential areas from the SGI and Saskatchewan Highways compound, but it should be extended to cover the rest of the berm towards the north of Cook Drive. In future years this tree line will provide sound and sightline buffering between the compound and the residential yards, and also provide shade as the trees grow and become established,” Morrison said.

“Heath Court is a planned green space within the York Landing subdivision, and was included due to its proximity to the berm planting location. By adding trees to this area now, the trees will have time to establish and grow, helping to promote York Landing as a residential development area.

“The west side of Mayhew Avenue contains a buffer area between the roadway and the Heritage Heights neighbourhood which is complete with trees, walking pathways and benches. The east side of Mayhew, however, is an open ditch/buffer area that does not have any planted trees. The Mayhew planting program would include planting trees along the east side of Mayhew Avenue, which once established would provide noise buffering, privacy and shade for houses that back onto the roadway. Planting is also planned to extend down around York Road East on the existing berm, providing tree cover for the houses on Good Spirit Crescent.”

All planting and maintenance would be completed by parks division staff.

“The current budget for the tree planting project is estimated at $100,000,” Morrison said.

If successful, the GCCC grant would cover a maximum of 50 per cent of the project costs, leaving $50,000 to be covered by the city.

“This request will be included in the 2027 capital budget process later this year,” Morrison said.

“If the city is successful in obtaining the GCCC grant and the project moves forward, we will communicate with nearby residents to advise them of the project, and include them in possible species selection, planting locations, and to potentially participate in a community tree planting program.”

Morrison also noted, “In addition to addressing environmental goals of the Yorkton 2020 Strategic Plan, the GCCC grant application and tree planting project meets the Tree Program identified on the council priorities chart.”

Council was unanimous in its support of the grant application.