AAUW-Oregon Public Policy Program Goals 2022-24

AAUW Salem Branch makes learning about and engaging in public policy fun and fulfilling…

LOCAL PUBLIC POLICY ISSUE

TREE PLANTING PROJECT

Friday April 21st was Planting Day at  STEPHENS-YOSHIKAI SCHOOL PARK
4962 Hayesville Dr NE, Salem, OR

At our November Meeting Milan Davis spoke about the tree planting project’s AAUW grove at Stephens-Yoshikal School Park.

Our branch’s local public policy focus goal was to review, assess and participate in the creation and enactment of the City of Salem Climate Action Plan.  After it passed in December 2021, AAUW Salem Branch formed a sub-committee:  Laura Buhl, Dolores Mlynarczyk, Peggy Shippen, Micki Varney and Joyce Zook who discussed how our branch could help enact the plan. Increasing the tree canopy is one of the goals of the City of Salem Climate Action Plan. We planted single trees in the past and they were on the minds of our members due to the devastating loss of 17% of Salem’s tree canopy in the winter frost of 2020. With the help of our member and City Councilwoman Vanessa Nordyke, we began talking with the City of Salem Parks and Recreation Services Director Jennifer Kellar and City Urban Planner Milan Davis to if we might plant not one tree but a GROVE of trees over time. We discussed where and which trees could be planted and sustained and how our members could confidently make tax-deductible donations to a fund that would be solely dedicated for planting of trees that the City would plant and maintain.

The City of Salem Parks and Recreation Services created a tax-deductible Trust and Agency fund dedicated for our stated purpose to plant trees and increase the Salem tree canopy. Upon the recommendation of the City Parks & Recreation, we chose Stephens-Yoshikai School Park in NE Salem to plant our grove of trees not only because the area is in dire need of tree crown but because there are virtually no trees around the park. Adjacent to the park is a neighborhood to the east and two schools – Stephens Middle School to the North and Stephens Elementary School to the South – with a cricket field in the middle. All will benefit immensely from the trees and their canopy providing a healthy environment for growth and learning.

The first 10 trees, Oregon White Oak and Cascaras, will be planted in the East corner of the park that connects to a “Wildlife Corridor” where a few other mature trees, including a large Oregon white oak, are growing. Planting close to these mature trees will increase their chance of survival. The 5’ trees will cost on average about $100 per tree. Additional trees, usually planted in groups of 10, will planted each year as funding permits: first from the SE corner up to the NE corner, then along the South and up the West side of the park where there is a walking trail, and then across the North side where there is a bike trail.

Our goal is to have a first planting ceremony in April 2023 – Arbor Month – with the goal of increasing the grove and keeping our trees and tree planting project alive for many years. 

Make tax-deductible donations (checks only) to:
City of Salem Parks Operations – Attn: Jennifer Kellar
1460 20th St. SE #14
Salem, OR 97302
Reference/Memo Line: “Project # 589921″

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