Community Greening - Cumberland, Maryland
The City of Cumberland lies along the Potomac River, nestled in the Allegany Mountains. Sustaining the community's special quality of life has become increasingly important as the City has been designated by the State of Maryland as an Arts and Entertainment District. Cumberland is interested in enhancing and preserving its natural beauty and charm as part of an economic strategy, but sees other advantages as well.
Goals
Cumberland approached NEMO for assistance in developing an "urban tree canopy" program. The City began a tree-planting initiative in 2006 and wants to take it step further. The goal is to conserve existing trees and actually increase the amount of the city covered by trees, when viewed from above. City trees are very helpful in achieving many community priorities: improving water quality, increasing energy savings, decreasing city temperatures, reducing air pollution, enhancing property values, providing wildlife habitat, facilitating social and educational opportunities, and providing aesthetic benefits.
Process
Chesapeake NEMO partners were asked to help develop a process for engaging community stakeholders in the urban tree canopy program. Components of the effort were anticipated to include an assessment of the current City tree canopy, long-term tree canopy goals, and possible strategies for public education, citizen volunteers, and regulatory and city initiatives for implementation.
Early tree-planting actions and development of important satellite imagery for the canopy assessment were spurred by a Chesapeake Bay Trust grant. By summer 2008, analysis of the satellite data will provide the City with information to inform a reasonable tree canopy goal.
While the data are analyzed, the City, with the help of Chesapeake NEMO, is initiating a stakeholder engagement process, including:
- An extensive series of stakeholder briefings and interviews
- A program for the community on the values of urban trees
- A civic forum/workshop for creating a vision of the role of trees in Cumberland, and for defining a goal for the City's tree canopy and initial implementation strategies.
City partners collaborating in this project include City divisions of Engineering, Parks and Recreation, Community Development, Economic Development, the City's Shade Tree Commission, and community organizations. Participating NEMO Network partners include Chesapeake NEMO and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
Outcome
This initiative is still underway, so several outcomes are expected between now and spring 2009. By then, the City plans to plant more than 200 trees and have an urban tree canopy program in place, with a formally adopted goal and clear implementation strategies. The City anticipates this will: help protect and expand the city's tree canopy; enhance the beauty of Cumberland and the draw for visitors and businesses; and reduce the serious impacts of stormwater and on water quality and costs to the City for managing it.
More Information
NEMO Fact Sheet Cumberland (.pdf)
Amy Handen, Chesapeake NEMO
Raquel Ketterman, City of Cumberland Dept. of Public Works
Trees in Cumberland Video presentation