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Rochester recognized for outreach in creating Urban Forest Master Plan
Rochester recognized for outreach in creating Urban Forest Master Plan
The New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA) has presented its Public Outreach Award to the city of Rochester’s Urban Forest Master Plan.
Created in collaboration with consulting firm Highland Planning of Rochester, an advisory committee and members of the city’s Community Tree Ambassador program, the plan was the first update to the Urban Forest Master Plan since 2012.
The document establishes policies for managing the care and maintenance of about 67,000 trees along city streets, within parks and in cemeteries.
Outreach involved engagement with more than 1,200 residents and included the hiring of community tree ambassadors in each city quadrant, public meetings, an online survey and dozens of pop-up events.
“The 2024 Rochester Urban Forest Master Plan showcases the power of innovative community engagement, celebrating and reimagining our urban forest,” Highland Planning CEO and founder Tanya Mooza Zwahlen said. “The excitement for this process was palpable, and the city’s beautiful trees are more visible as a result. If you have never written a love letter to a tree, I cannot recommend it enough.”
A comprehensive overview of the plan can be found on the city website.
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