Forestry
Division staff members manage the care and maintenance of approximately 64,000
public trees located along City streets and in City parks and cemeteries. This
includes tree pest management, pruning, planting, removal, inspection and responding
to public requests. Visit the Forestry Services dashboard to find out more.
The office
is currently engaged in an update to the City's Urban Forest Master
Plan, last updated in 2012. The updated plan will incorporate community
input and city resident Tree
Ambassadors from every quadrant with multiple opportunities for public
engagement. The update will describe the City's forestry initiatives to
address issues such as environmental justice, climate change, and educational
opportunities. The City's Urban Forest Master Plan update is expected to be
complete June 2024.
The Forestry Division has completed a draft of the Urban Forest
Master Plan Update, including several recommendations developed directly from
public feedback! Please click here to review the
draft Urban Forest Master Plan Update. The draft recommendations, which begin
on page 26 of the draft plan, will be the focus of a series of upcoming public
meetings (see below).
Upcoming Public Meetings
The City will be hosting a
series of public meetings to discuss the draft Urban Forest Master Plan Update and
gather public feedback on the recommendations contained in the draft. You’re
invited to attend any of the following public meetings. All of the public meetings
will cover the same content, so please choose the one that is most convenient for you. Also, make sure to bring
your smart phone, as we’ll be using interactive polling during the meetings!
Public
Meetings:
- 6 p.m. Monday, May 6, 2024
at the Arnett Branch Library at 310 Arnett Boulevard
- 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 7,
2024 * at the Children’s School of Rochester
#15 in the gym at 85 Hillside Avenue
- *In advance of this
meeting, you’re invited to join us for a hike through Washington Grove -- an
old growth forest in the middle of the City. We’ll meet in the parking lot of
the Children’s School of Rochester #15 at 5PM. The hike will begin at 5:15PM
and will last approximately one hour.
- 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14,
2024 at the Rochester International Academy
in the auditorium at 1 Edgerton Park
- 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May
16, 2024 at the Ibero American Action League at
214 Clifford Avenue
- 6 p.m. Monday, May 20 2024
(virtual) Link to join: https://tinyurl.com/RocUrbanForestWebinar2024
- Webinar ID: 819 1492 3795
- Audio Only Call: 646-931-3860
Urban Forest Walking Tours
The City's Forestry Division and the Community Tree
Ambassadors will host walking tours of the urban forest throughout June 2024,
with one tour scheduled in each quadrant. All tours are free and open to the
public. Participants are encouraged to join to learn more about the city's
trees and their various benefits.
The schedule for the
tours is as follows:
Northwest Quadrant: Tuesday,
June 11, at 5:30 p.m.
- The
tour will commence at the corner of Lake View Park and Pierpont Street, guiding
participants through the Lakeview Park neighborhood.
Southwest Quadrant: Wednesday, June 12, at 5:30 p.m.
- The
tour will begin at the intersection of Post Avenue and Aberdeen Street,
traversing Thurston Road, Woodbine Avenue, and Aberdeen neighborhoods.
Northeast Quadrant: Monday, June 17, at 5:30 p.m.
- The
tour will start at the corner of Hudson Avenue and Wilson Street, following a
route along Helena, Wilson, and Woodbury Streets, between Hudson Avenue and
North Street, showcasing a blend of mature trees and new plantings.
Southeast Quadrant: Saturday, June 22, at 10 a.m.
- The
tour will kick off at the intersection of Nunda Blvd. and Cobbs Hill Dr.,
offering a walking exploration of Washington Grove, led by the Friends of the
Grove.
Tour Expectations: Participants can expect to walk on sidewalks, except for the Southeast Tour of
Washington Grove, which takes place in a forested park.
Tour Duration: Each tour is expected to last approximately 1-2 hours.
Exertion Level: The tours typically involve light exertion, except for the Southeast Tour of
Washington Grove, which may involve moderate exertion due to its terrain.
Timing: The tours
are scheduled for 5:30 PM, which coincides with dinner time. Participants are
welcome to stroll and snack/eat during the tour.
Tour Topics: The
topics for each tour may include Tree Identification, Tree Benefits, Forestry
Division Services, among others. These topics may vary depending on the
quadrant and specific focus of the tour.
Other Opportunities to Engage with Tree Ambassadors and the
Project Team:
The City’s Community Tree
Ambassadors and other members of the
project team will be tabling at the following events. Stop by at your
convenience to learn more about the recommendations contained in the draft
Urban Forest Master Plan Update and share your feedback!
Spring
Urban Ag Conference
- 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 27, 2024 at the Edison Career & Technology High School at 655
Colfax Street, Rochester
- 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday May 11, 2024 at the Rochester Public Market at 280 North Union Street
For all other questions contact the Forestry Division:
Monday -Friday, 7:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m.
210B Colfax Street
(585) 428-7581