Durham tree plan aims to help neighborhoods bloom

The City of Durham is pushing a plan that calls for planting trees in parts of the city that historically have not had many of them.

The proposal also calls for the city the replace its population of trees that date back to the 1930s because many of them are dying.

Durham officials say they plan to plant about 1,500 trees a year through 2040, increasing the tree coverage to 240 acres.

Municipal leaders say the plan to grow more trees will help beautify the city and improve the quality of life for residents.

The benefits of having a tree-lined street are plenty, according to Tania Dautlick, executive director of Keeping Durham Beautiful, a non-profit group working with the city to plant these trees.

“Most of the neighborhoods that we work with are really excited for the opportunity to have trees planted along their streets,” Dautlick said. “I think they have the sense that a treelined street as being really beautiful, and they come to understand the social, experiential benefits as well as the environmental benefits.”

Dorothy Brown, a resident of Old North Durham, enjoys the emergence of new trees on her street.

“I really like to watch these grow, spring out just like flowers,” said Brown.

As trees get old and die, Kevin Lilley, the Assistant Director of General Services in Durham, is prioritizing preservation and where to plant new ones.

“The city is now taking the opportunity to put trees in those locations to make sure that neighborhoods that did not have the trees are getting them today,” said Lilley.

Some of the neighborhoods designated for trees include Old East Durham, Walltown and Stratford Lakes.