F1RSTNR

Dennis Chestnut spends his time planting trees because, as he puts it, “Trees are resilient”. Chestnut is the Executive Director of Groundwork Anacostia, and after learning about his ongoing work with a volunteer brigade known as the “Citizen Foresters”, it’s not hard to see the similarities between the man and his job (last name aside).A couple weeks ago, ReadySetDC and I were on-site with Casey Trees at JC Nalle Community School to observe one of many urban forestation efforts collectively known as the Community Tree Planting (CTP) Program.

Casey Trees is a local non-profit organization working to directly improve DC’s neighborhoods through planting. Lately, they have been working on the “Restore Mass Avenue” project and with area schools as part of a larger effort on behalf of the DCPS to make schools more green. Besides their annual contribution of more than 400 new trees to the district’s eco-system, Casey Trees is also providing residents an opportunity to reconnect with nature.

Phil Hammond, a JC Nalle alumnus and trained Citizen Forester, has worked with Casey Trees since 2001 and is often surprised by those who don’t support or even understand the work he’s doing. “Some people don’t like trees, they think they are a hassle.” Hammond explains, letting a group of eager students from from Ms. Bang’s second grade class take over the digging. “But experiences with trees change our values and our appreciation of them. That’s what I hope for these children.”

Hammond should know something about tree appreciation; by his estimation he’s got just about 300 tree plantings under his belt. Not only is he trying to make environmentalism “cool” to JC Nalle and other district school children, he’s also contributing in a huge way to the actual temperature of the city. DC is built on former wetlands and although average Summer temperatures range somewhere in the high 80’s, residents and visitors are well aware that being surrounded by too much asphalt and brick buildings can really jack up the heat.

Lacey Brown, Education Coordinator with Casey Trees, previously worked on urban forestry projects in Los Angeles with “Tree People”. She confirms the vital role that vegetation can play in cooling cities during the hottest months. “The plantings bring communities together as well as contributes to a cooler city, which in the District of Columbia, is no joke”, says Brown.

Approximately 20 percent of DC is public parkland, tying with New York City for largest percentage of parkland among high-density U.S. cities. The majority of that is in the hands of the National Park Service which means upkeep is sometimes difficult. Casey Trees fills in the gaps at the local level, favoring neighborhood projects which federal budgets just can’t cover. Before we leave JC Nalle, Chestnut informs us that the NPS is soon to have a new Superintendent who he hopes will continue to work with Casey Trees through their current partnership.

“If I could tell the new superintendent one thing, it would be to recognize that urban parks and large National Parks are not the same,” Chestnut says. “We know that we have an abundance of park land in DC communities and that each park is distinct.”

Casey Trees has a number of programs and volunteer opportunities including their Tree Walks and Citizen Forester classes. Their next planting will take place on Saturday, December 5th at Fort Reno Road Triangle Park.

(Originally published on ReadySetDC)