Newportians stepping up to plant trees in ‘concrete jungle’

More Newport residents than expected have stepped up to turn the west side of the city from a “concrete jungle” to a lush urban landscape.

The urban foresters and neighborhood associations involved received double the expected amount of requests for trees to be planted in front of homes and businesses on the city’s west side.

As a result, the residents are looking for extra money to purchase the trees to plant on May 16 on the city’s west side.

“I think you will see a pretty significant difference,” said Josh Tunning, a west side resident and community organizer with social service agency Brighton Center. “If you’ve been to Newport and seen the east side of the city, it’s almost like a forest. You go to the west side, some refer to it as the concrete jungle. You will notice a huge difference, I think, after this tree planting. ”

An $8,000 grant from the Northern Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Council will pay for 60 trees on the city’s west side. Residents, however, have ordered 125 trees. A recent donation of $2,500 will pay for some of the new trees but the volunteers are still $3,000 short. Rachel Comte, a member of the East Row Garden Club, an urban forester and member of the Northern Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Council, said she’s confident they will have raised enough by the day of the tree planting on May 16. Volunteers with the Westside Citizens Coalition, the East Row Garden Club and the city of Newport will deliver and plant the trees.

While many might stereotype the west side as poor and full of rental properties, this shows many of the property owners — even the landlords for rental property — care, Comte said.

“A lot of the property owners that live over there are excited to do it, ” Comte said.

The garden club is looking for someone also to donate food for the day of the planting. Those interested in participating or donating should visit eastrowgardenclub.org and click on the tree icon.

“I’m glad there’s citizen involvement,” said Newport City Manager Tom Fromme. “The city couldn’t do it all themselves. We will work with them. I think it’s great. The more the better.”