Ellsworth Arbor Commission Receives $193,000 for Urban Forestry Projects
Ellsworth, Maine – The City of Ellsworth’s Arbor Commission is celebrating the completion of its first year of service to the community with the announcement that it has secured $193,000 in grants through the Maine Forest Service for tree planting and other urban forestry projects over the next three years.
A Project Canopy Planning Grant will support the development of a comprehensive Forestry Management Plan for the City including a plan for the City’s newly expanded Public Forest, an Invasive Pests Management Plan, and a small planting project on High Street in November. The grant will be matched by in-kind contributions by commission members, city staff, and local non-profits (the Ellsworth Garden Club, Frenchman Bay Conservancy, and Green Ellsworth).
The second grant, for $173,000, was received from the US Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program. It will fund an extensive tree-planting project, stretching from the High Street area along Foster and Washington streets to the waterfront and the City’s Harbor Park. This area includes the largest concentration of low-cost housing in the City, as well as Card Brook, which has historically been an urban impaired stream, and a high concentration of paved and impervious surfaces. The plantings will not only make these areas more attractive and welcoming to residents and visitors alike, but also function as green infrastructure capable of mitigating the effects of climate change such as extreme heat, storm water run-off, and flooding during increasingly extreme weather events.
“The Ellsworth Arbor Commission is honored to receive these grants, which will have a profound impact on our ability to enhance the city’s green spaces, particularly in the areas that need it most,” said Tabatha White, Chair of the Arbor Commission. “To have secured this level of support in our very first year as a commission demonstrates how vital our work is and how committed we are to building a greener, healthier Ellsworth.”
In order to help manage this Urban and Community Forestry Grant, the City is partnering with the Maine Conservation Corp to host a Community Tree Steward from January to November 2025. Trained and fully funded by the US Forest Service, this Steward will work full-time for the City to help implement the large planting plan and to organize staff and volunteer training to support ongoing care of the urban canopy.
Both the Urban and Community Forestry Program and the Community Tree Stewards are supported by a $1.5 billion investment in the US Forest Service through the Inflation Reduction Act, part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s “Investing in America” initiative. Nationwide, these funds are being allocated to urban forestry programs aimed at improving public health, increasing tree cover, and strengthening community resilience against climate change.
Since its formation in August 2023, the Arbor Commission has rapidly advanced its goals of improving urban tree management, fostering volunteer stewardship and engagement, improving biodiversity, increasing shade, and boosting the City’s resilience to climate impacts. These grants will allow the Commission to develop a long-term forestry management plan to ensure the sustainable growth of the city’s canopy, increase tree cover in underserved areas, and provide more equitable access to green spaces. The benefits include improved air quality, increased shade, and reduced flooding risks—all in line with a broader beautification initiative led by City Manager Charles Pearce:
“One of the things that makes Ellsworth so special is its size and immense natural beauty. Spanning over 97 square miles and featuring three lakes, a tidal river marina, a scenic river, and extensive trails, our City offers a remarkable landscape. However, much of the local and visitor traffic along our High Street corridors don’t fully showcase the stunning natural features that surround us. These grants are an incredible leap forward in rectifying that mismatch, ensuring that both residents and visitors can truly appreciate the beauty of our City in every corner. We’re excited to take this step toward a greener, more vibrant Ellsworth.”
In the coming months, the Arbor Commission will engage with residents, local organizations, and experts to ensure these projects address community needs and cultivate a sense of shared stewardship. The Commission welcomes individuals interested in serving as a commissioner, volunteer tree steward, donor, or tree sponsor. To offer input or learn more about the Commission’s projects and ways to get involved, community members are invited to attend Arbor Commission meetings on the first Monday of the month at 8:15 a.m. at City Hall or they may contact Commission Chair, Tabatha White at 617-699-2351 or tabatha.s.white@gmail.com.
