Urban and Community Forestry Grant Accomplishments
This page highlights recent grant awardees from CT DEEP’s urban and community forestry grant programs. Awardees are listed by year of award. You can read more about these grant programs here.
In addition to the awardees listed on this page, the Connecticut Urban Forest Council also administered over $450,000 in Urban Forestry Climate Change Grants with pass-through funding from DEEP’s Urban and Community Forestry Program through the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Read more about this collaboration and explore those individual projects or view the Urban and Community Forestry Grants Outcomes Story Map.
2025
Town of Killingly | Awarded $20,000 | Chase Reservoir Invasive Management | Urban Forested Natural Areas and Riparian Corridor Restoration Grant Program
A total of 42 acres of forest in the Chase Reservoir Conservation Area in Killingly experienced heavy impacts from emerald ash borer and subsequent colonization by invasive shrubs and vines. The town of Killingly is conducting a commercial timber harvest to salvage ash lumber. Funding from this grant will support treatments to manage invasive species after the timber harvest to ensure that native tree species are able to regenerate, maintaining a healthy and resilient forest stand. Qualified town staff will monitor the site monthly to monitor reemergence of invasive species and the recruitment of native tree species post-harvest.
Riverside Park Conservancy, Inc. | Awarded $15,113 | Invasive Plant and Vine Removal in Bates Woods Park | Urban Forested Natural Areas and Riparian Corridor Restoration Grant Program
Bates Woods Park is the largest forested public space in the city of New London. Riverside Park Conservancy is acting as a fiscal sponsor for a community group called Bates Friends Forever, who will engage volunteers in invasive removal and tree planting workdays across the park. The goals are to remove invasive species from 9 acres of Bates Woods Park and to plant at least 80 trees in the park to outcompete and limit future reinvasion from invasive plants. This award will be used to purchase native trees and tools for volunteers.
Eastern Connecticut Conservation District, Inc. | Awarded $15,776 | Anguilla Brook Northern Headwaters Restoration Project | Urban Forested Natural Areas and Riparian Corridor Restoration Grant Program
Atlantic white cedar swamps are a unique and threatened ecosystem in Connecticut. The Eastern Connecticut Conservation District will restore 11,000 sq ft of critical Atlantic white cedar swamp and other wetland habitat in the Anguilla Brook/Inner Wequetequock Cove Watershed. This award will support invasive vine and shrub removal, tree planting including about 100 Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) seedlings, and educational programs for students. This work will improve water quality in this critical ecosystem.
Trout Unlimited, Inc. | Awarded $19,992 | Finch Flood Plain Restoration | Urban Forested Natural Areas and Riparian Corridor Restoration Grant Program
Finch Flood Plain is a 6-acre parcel abutting the Rippowam River, which runs through Stamford on its way to Long Island Sound. The floodplain is currently overgrown with invasive shrub and vine species, which limits its wildlife and pollinator value and its ability to provide key ecosystem services, including erosion control and water filtration. Through this award, Trout Unlimited will host a series of site walks and community events to teach volunteers and youth about the Rippowam River and the Finch Flood Plain and lead them in invasive plant removal and native tree planting.
Town of Stratford | Awarded $19,200 | Stonybrook Park Restoration | Urban Forested Natural Areas and Riparian Corridor Restoration Grant Program
Stonybrook Park in Stratford is the last natural riparian floodplain before Bruce Brooks discharges into the Long Island Sound. This forested area is currently dominated by invasive shrub and vine species, which limits the cooling, carbon storage, and water filtration potential of this parcel, as well as the limit for pollinators and wildlife. The town of Stratford will use this award to conduct community outreach and hire a subcontractor to manage invasive species in preparation for future native tree plantings.
Town of Ellington | Awarded $14,000 | Town of Ellington Tree Inventory | Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program
Tree inventories document the size, species, and condition of individual trees within a given area. These inventories provide invaluable data on the condition, composition, and potential threats to a community's urban trees. The Town of Ellington will use this award to subcontract a CT Certified Arborist to collect the town’s first comprehensive street tree inventory along 96 miles of town-owned road, 11 municipal parks, and approximately 265 acres of other town-owned green spaces. With the information from the tree inventory, the Town of Ellington will be better equipped to proactively manage tree health and identify locations to plant new trees.
Town of Ridgefield Conservation Commission | Awarded $9,250 | Pine Mountain/Hemlock Hills Town Open Space Forest Management Plan | Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program
In the town of Ridgefield, three municipally-owned parcels comprise 832-acres of open space and are bordered by Wooster Mountain and Bennett’s Pond State Parks. Large, contiguous patches of forest such as these provide important habitat value and landscape connectivity, and are crucial in accomplishing state goals to increase and maintain forest cover. Ridgefield will use this award to hire a CT Certified Forester to create a forest management plan that will guide stewardship of these parcels to preserve and improve forest health. The Ridgefield Conservation Commission will also host educational walks and talks to convey management plan findings to community members.
Town of Bloomfield | Awarded $30,000 | Bloomfield Right-Of-Way (ROW) Tree Inventory | Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program
Comprehensive tree inventory data help municipalities make better decisions about management and planting of urban street trees. The Town of Bloomfield has a partial street tree inventory, which it will be able to expand by at least 48 miles of town-owned road through this award. By increasing the resolution and scale of their tree inventory, Bloomfield Public Works will be able to prioritize the location and species for new tree plantings to improve forest health and increase tree cover in low canopy neighborhoods.
Town of Mansfield | Awarded $21,120 | Developing a Forest Inventory and Assessment for Key Town-owned Open Space | Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program
Protecting and sustaining the resilience of community forests requires active planning and management. The Town of Mansfield will use this award to hire a CT Certified Forester to inventory and develop a management plan for approximately 1,061 acres of town-owned forest across 5 ecologically significant parcels. The town will also conduct a public survey with special outreach to adjacent landowners to collect information about community priorities regarding Mansfield’s community forest use and management to inform the final management plan.
Town of Old Saybrook | Awarded $10,855 | Managing Old Saybrook’s Green Future: Interactive Tree Inventory and Management | Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program
Street tree inventories can help municipalities proactively manage risk and improve the long-term health of their urban canopy. Old Saybrook, like many coastal communities, experiences exacerbated storm and flooding events, which can jeopardize tree health and resilience. This award will fund an inventory of street trees along key transportation routes, enabling strategic management of potential hazards and creating resilience in emergency or evacuation scenarios. This award will also fund an inventory of 7 town parks, with the intention of improving management and increasing canopy.
Riverside Park Conservancy | Awarded $9,240 | Forest Management Plan for Bates Woods Park | Urban and Community Forestry Planning Grant Program
Bates Wood Park is a large urban woodland in New London that faces threats from invasive species, forest pathogens, and unsanctioned recreational use. Bates Friends Forever, with Riverside Park Conservancy as a fiscal sponsor, will use this award to hire a CT Certified Forester to develop a forest management plan for the 65-acre park. In addition to ecological considerations, the plan will also incorporate community needs and uses garnered through a series of community meetings.
2024
Aspetuck Land Trust, Inc. | Awarded $150,000 | Miyawaki by the Sea: An Urban Forestation Project for Bridgeport | Urban Forest Equity Grant
The Aspetuck Land Trust will work with the Wakeman Boys and Girls Club of Bridgeport and other community members to install a new “Miyawaki” style microforest in Seaside Park, Bridgeport. This microforest will feature a variety of overstory tree species, understory shrubs, and subcanopy trees to enhance structural diversity and biodiversity, benefiting wildlife and climate resilience. The project will involve youth and community members in the design, site preparation, and planting processes. Additionally, Aspetuck will offer a series of public workshops on urban forests and plant ecology as well as complimentary one-year membership to Aspetuck Land Trust for Bridgeport residents.
Gather New Haven, Inc. | Awarded $70,000 | Gather New Haven Preserves Restoration an Management | Urban Forest Equity Grant
Gather New Haven will engage a professional forester to develop a comprehensive forest management plan for over 70 acres of parkland throughout New Haven. Guided by this plan, Gather New Haven will organize volunteer days for invasive species removal and tree planting. To ensure the sustainability of these efforts, the organization will also establish park Friends groups and a Land Stewardship Committee to oversee the ongoing management of parkland forests.
Groundwork Bridgeport, Inc. | Awarded $145,000 | Tree Stewardship | Urban Forest Equity Grant
Groundwork Bridgeport will partner with EMERGE Connecticut to enhance tree planting and care in underserved neighborhoods while providing transitional employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals. This collaboration will enable the planting of at least 200 trees in Bridgeport, with ongoing follow-up care and maintenance. Additionally, invasive species removal efforts will be conducted along the Rooster River.
Keep America Beautiful, Inc. | Awarded $145,000 | National Urban Forestry Expertise Comes to Norwalk: A Green Workforce and Best Practices Toolkit for Connecticut’s Urban Forestry | Urban Forest Equity Grant
Keep America Beautiful will organize a “UniversiTREE” event, offering comprehensive urban forestry training programs to community stakeholders and civic groups across Norwalk. This event will also include workforce training in tree planting and care best practices. Guided by this knowledge, Keep America Beautiful will plant at least 120 trees across Norwalk.
NEST, Inc. | Awarded $67,410 | Urban Forestry Program | Urban Forest Equity Grant
In partnership with Bent of the River Audubon Center, NEST will plant over 50 trees in Waterbury’s Crownbrook Neighborhood and host a series of classes and library talks focused on urban forestry. The project will also include the establishment of a community tree nursery to enable residents to grow trees until they are ready for planting. Additionally, NEST will publish an informative webpage featuring urban forestry resources and a tree inventory for the Crownbrook neighborhood.
New Haven Ecology Project, Inc. | Awarded $145,159 | Restoring and Stewarding Common Ground’s Urban Forest as a Resource for Equitable Access to Nature and Workforce Development | Urban Forest Equity Grant
New Haven Ecology Project (NHEP) will conduct invasive plant removal and management on their campus and in the surrounding area, and then will follow with restoration plantings of native tree and shrub species to stabilize soils and reduce reoccurrence of invasive species. NHEP will also expand an existing “food forest” on their campus through the planting of heat-tolerant sugar maples and fruit trees. NHEP will supplement their educational mission with these activities through a series of public workshops, school fieldtrips, permanent educational signage, and paid student jobs in environmental stewardship.
New London Trees, Inc. | Awarded $115,300 | Growing Community and Trees | Urban Forest Equity Grant
New London Trees, Inc., will enhance the city’s green infrastructure by planting 100 trees throughout New London. The project will also support the long-term monitoring of urban canopy health through an ongoing tree inventory. Additionally, the organization will train youth and early-career interns in advanced tree care techniques, bolstering development of future urban forestry professionals. The project will be complemented by a series of educational community events.
Norwalk River Watershed Association, Inc. | Awarded $150,000 | South Norwalk ‘Pavement to Micro-Forest’ Urban Resiliency Project | Urban Forest Equity Grant
Norwalk River Watershed Association will work alongside residents of the neighborhood surrounding Meadow Street Park to design a micro-forest. The community will plant a variety of tree species closely together to encourage dense growth, aiming to provide rapid canopy to a neighborhood that has few trees and little plantable area. In addition to planting the forest, Norwalk River Watershed Association will host several educational library talks for residents of Norwalk.
Urban Resources Initiative, Inc. | Awarded $24,977| Protecting Trees by Engaging and Educating Volunteers in Invasive Species Management | Urban Forest Equity Grant
The Urban Resources Initiative (URI) will undertake a comprehensive effort to remove invasive species and safeguard existing canopy cover in parks across New Haven. URI plans to engage the community through over 60 volunteer days dedicated to invasive species removal. URI will also offer public workshops on effective invasive species management and removal techniques.
Town of Vernon| Awarded $131,416 | Live Here-Love Trees | Urban Forest Equity Grant
The Town of Vernon is launching its "Live Here-Love Trees" initiative, which includes the planting of 50 trees in the Rockville neighborhood. This initiative will also involve hiring and training tree ambassadors to foster community engagement in urban forestry and ongoing tree maintenance. The program will feature several educational workshops on tree care and will install permanent informational signage at designated planting locations.
2023
Town of Glastonbury | Awarded $30,000 | Glastonbury Comprehensive Forest Action Plan | UCF Planning Grant
The Town of Glastonbury hired a certified forester to inventory approximately 1,500 acres of town-owned forest land across 23 parcels. The Town also conducted a public survey about community priorities regarding Glastonbury’s urban forest use and management. You can read more about Glastonbury’s Urban Forestry project and access the full report from their Forest Inventory Webpage.
Town of New Milford | Awarded approximately $880 | New Milford Tree Management Plan | UCF Planning Grant
A certified arborist was hired to conduct a tree inventory along approximately 0.5 miles of municipal roads in the Gaylordsville section of New Milford.
Town of Stratford | Awarded $15,524 | Town of Stratford Tree Canopy Assessment | UCF Planning Grant
The Town of Stratford hired a consultant to conduct a town-wide canopy assessment with high resolution (1m >) imagery, which included estimations of tree canopy cover by neighborhood, tree canopy change over time, and estimations of suitable areas to plant trees on public and private lands. The Town also conducted public outreach about the project including a “Sweet TREEts” Halloween event. You can access the full report at the Town of Stratford’s Urban Forestry Planning Webpage.
Town of Wethersfield | Awarded $17,523 | Town of Wethersfield's Tree Management Planning Project | UCF Planning Grant
The Town of Wethersfield hired a certified arborist to create a town-wide street tree inventory, which included information about approximately 3,900 trees. The arborist also documented almost 500 potential locations for future tree plantings. An analysis of the tree inventory, including recommended actions for specific trees, was collected into a report. The report presented a strategy to improve urban canopy health on a large scale to inform the town’s future management decisions.
Town of Winchester | Awarded $5,000 | Town of Winchester Tree Inventory | UCF Planning Grant
The Town of Winchester hired a certified arborist to conduct a tree inventory along the South Main Street, spanning from Coe Street to Rowley Street, as well as East End Park. The arborist recorded more than 180 trees along this length of road and provided management recommendations for each one. The final report also gave other planting recommendations for suitable areas along the street and in the park. You can read more about this project and access the full report at the Town of Winchester’s Urban Tree Inventory Report Page.
2022
City of Milford | Awarded $14,400 | Milford’s Arboretum Inventory and Community Engagement | UCF Planning Grant
The City of Milford hired a contractor to do a full inventory, health, and risk assessment for over 600 trees within Milford’s Town Arboretum.
Groundwork Bridgeport | Awarded $19,905 | South End and West End/West Side Tree Inventory | UCF Planning Grant
Groundwork Bridgeport trained volunteers to collect tree inventory data for street trees in the South End and West Side neighborhoods of Bridgeport. This tree inventory will help guide future decisions about which tree species to plant and highlight potential planting areas for the future.
Keney Park Sustainability Project | Awarded $20,000 | Project Re-canopy | UCF Planning Grant
Keney Park Sustainability Project worked in collaboration with Riverfront Recapture, the Connecticut River Conservancy, and the City of Hartford to host a series of public events promoting tree management, maintenance, and planting.
Tree planting in Keney Park, Hartford through Project Re-canopy.
KNOX | Awarded $14,209 | Tree Inventory and Maintenance Plan for Hartford | UCF Planning Grant
Through this project, Knox was able to inventory all of the trees planted by their organization in the past 10 years.
Riverside Cemetery | Awarded $4,550 | Riverside Cemetery Tree Inventory and Management Plan | UCF Planning Grant
Riverside Cemetery hired a contractor to conduct a tree inventory of the cemetery grounds. This inventory highlighted potential future tree planting sites and identified tree health issues and hazardous trees on the grounds. With support from this grant, Riverside was able to implement recommendations identified in their inventory to remove hazardous trees and replace them with new trees.
Tree planting in Riverside Cemetery, Waterbury
Town of Avon | Awarded $10,000 | Natural Resources Inventory and Maintenance Plan | UCF Planning Grant
The Town of Avon contracted a forester to write a management plan for 722 forested acres of town-owned parcels including Alsop Meadows Conservation Area, Fisher Meadows Natural Area, Found Land Conservation Area, Huckleberry Hill Conservation Area, and Hazen Park in Avon.
Town of Columbia | Awarded $9,500 | Columbia Green Historic District Municipal Tree Management Program | UCF Planning Grant
Through this project, the Town of Columbia was able to expand its existing management plan to include the town green and town hall campuses. This plan helped the town to protect existing trees and prioritize future tree plantings.
Town of Fairfield | Awarded $5,000 | Burr Gardens | UCF Planning Grant
The Town of Fairfield received funding to create a tree inventory and management plan for the Burr Gardens in Fairfield. The grant also supported the installation of informational signage for notable trees on the grounds.
Town of Plainfield | Awarded $2,563 | Forest Stewardship Plan | UCF Planning Grant
The Town of Plainfield used funding to create a comprehensive forest management plan for a 162-acre town-owned property.
Urban Resource Initiative | Awarded $20,000 | Capacity Building to Advance Reactive to Proactive Management | UCF Planning Grant
The Urban Resource Initiative worked with the City of New Haven to document hazardous trees and stumps in the Annex, Fair Haven, Dixwell, Dwight, West River, and Hill neighborhoods of New Haven. You can view these trees in New Haven’s tree inventory.
New Haven’s tree inventory.
Through financial support provided by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the Urban Forest Equity Through Capacity Building Grant Program provided support to help municipalities and non-profit organizations build capacity through urban forestry projects that addressed both climate change and environmental justice issues. In 2022, 14 grantees, listed below, were awarded funding amounting to nearly $130,000. This grant program is no longer available.
City of West Haven | Awarded $10,000 | Urban Canopy Initiative | Equity Through Capacity Building
With support from the Urban Forest Equity through Capacity Building Grant Program, the City of West Haven hired a contractor to create an urban forest management plan along Kelsey Avenue. This project also included a tree stewardship component through the Tree Warden’s "Tree Tender" program.
City of Groton | Awarded $7,725 | Wastewater Treatment Plant Shelter Belt | Equity Through Capacity Building
Through the Wastewater Treatment Plant Shelter Belt project, the city of Groton planted 77 trees around the perimeter of the wastewater treatment plant across from Thames View Park. As these trees mature and grow, they will not only minimize the view of the treatment plant but also minimize the odors coming from the plant. These trees will also help increase overall tree cover in Groton.
City of New Britain | Awarded $10,000 | Tree Canopy Restoration | Equity Through Capacity Building
The City of New Britain planted 34 trees to increase canopy cover in an area that lost trees in recent years due to pests and winter salt damage. These plantings will not only help offset the urban heat island effect and flooding experienced in these neighborhoods, but will also provide shelter, shade, and beautification to some of the city’s most under-resourced communities.
City of New London | Awarded $9,959 | Growing Community and Trees Pilot Program | Equity Through Capacity Building
This grant funded a Tree Pilot Program to train four local youth to plant and steward trees in the city of New London. Grant funds were used to purchase trees, tools, and other educational resources.
Common Ground School | Awarded $10,000 | Growing Capacity to Steward our Urban Forests at Common Ground | Equity Through Capacity Building
Common Ground School in New Haven worked with Urban Resources Initiative to create paid internships through the Green Job Corps to support forest restoration around the school’s campus. Common Ground School also held workshops to help community members and students learn about forest and tree maintenance/stewardship.
Connecticut River Conservancy | Awarded $9,910 | Growing Community Support for Re-foresting Hartford’s Tree Canopy | Equity Through Capacity Building
For this project, the Connecticut River Conservancy teamed up with the City of Hartford, Keney Park Sustainability Project, and Riverfront Recapture to host a series of community events, including a hands-on tree cultivation project, a workshop to discuss Hartford’s tree canopy, and an Earth Day event to celebrate volunteers from the city. This included a panel to discuss tree equity in the capital city.
Groundwork Bridgeport | Awarded $8,433 | Adopt-a-Tree and Tree Corps | Equity Through Capacity Building
This grant enabled Groundwork Bridgeport to expand its adopt-a-tree program, which trains volunteers in tree stewardship and care. Through the grant, the organization was able to host stewardship events and provide tree-care kits to tree stewards.
Staff and volunteers at Groundwork Bridgeport with tree care kits.
Justice Dance Performance Project, Inc. | Awarded $10,000 | In the Presence of Trees | Equity Through Capacity Building
This grant supported a series of tree-focused dance performances and outreach events centered on environmental justice, trees, and forests. Events were held in parks throughout Hartford. These performances included outreach and engagement intended to bring new and non-traditional perspectives into urban forestry.
Keney Park Sustainability Project | Awarded $10,000 | Keney Park Tree Nursery | Equity Through Capacity Building
Keney Park Sustainability Project used grant funds to help support the creation of a native tree nursery in Keney Park in Hartford. This project also provided workforce development opportunities for local youth.
Neighborhood Housing Services of New Haven | Awarded $8,512 | Urban Forestry Education and Volunteer Initiative | Equity Through Capacity Building
Neighborhood Housing Service of New Haven used grant funds to provide urban forestry educational opportunities for residents in the Newhallville neighborhood of New Haven. These opportunities leveraged the Project Learning Tree curriculum and included park clean-ups and restoration.
Neighborhood Housing Services of Waterbury | Awarded $10,000 | Urban Forestry Program | Equity Through Capacity Building
Neighborhood Housing Service of Waterbury used the funding to identify potential planting locations in the Crownbrook neighborhood of Waterbury as well as efforts to plant new trees in these target areas. This project also included outreach programs and events to help the community understand the importance of urban trees in their neighborhoods.
Norwalk Tree Advisory | Awarded $10,000 | Building Equity in South Norwalk through an Urban Forestry Project | Equity Through Capacity Building
The Norwalk Tree Advisory Committee, Norwalk Parks and Recreation, Norwalk Community College, and the Norwalk Housing Authority all worked together to plant trees in the Roodner Court Housing Complex in Norwalk. The tree planting also engaged local children to participate in the planting and learn about the importance of the trees around them.
Sierra Club | Awarded $10,000 | CT Chapter Remington Woods Project | Equity Through Capacity Building
The Sierra Club used funds to support a series of bilingual town hall meetings about the future of Remington Woods, a 422-acre woodland shared between Bridgeport and Stratford.
Stratfield Historic District | Awarded $5,000 | Stratfield Tree Planting Program | Equity Through Capacity Building
The Stratfield Historic District used the funds to develop a pilot tree-planting program in the Stratfield Historic District of Bridgeport. Through this project, they planted 20 trees to replace trees that had been lost in recent years due to storm damage. These trees will help regulate temperatures and increase stormwater retention.
Content last updated June 2025.