Philadelphia offering free yard trees toward 300k goal

The city of Philadelphia is working to plant more trees on streets and in backyards. 

The partnership between the city, Fairmount Park Conservancy and Wells Fargo bank is part of Philadelphia’s goal to plant 300,000 trees by 2015.

Mayor Michael Nutter says adding trees is about more than beauty.

“Helping us with stormwater management and erosion, helping with cleaning our air helping with the beauty that is the envy of many other cities across America, you know that thie effort is truly the right thing to do,” said Nutter.

Parks and Recreation Commissioner Mike DiBerardinis says the city has set up an easy way for people to acquire a free tree for the yard.

“We have a website that’s www.treephilly.org, in addition to registering for this program you can register for a street tree or get your trees pruned,” said DiBerardinis.

Once residents get approved, they will have to go pick the trees up.  Recipients must pledge to water the tree for two years to help it take root.