Adopt-A-Tree Program Accepting Applications for 2022

The City of Elkins Tree Board’s popular Adopt-A-Tree program returns this fall to encourage planting trees throughout the city. The program provides free young trees to selected homeowners in the city’s five wards. The application deadline is Friday, October 14.

New this year, applicants can pick out their tree at the Elkins Tree Nursery behind the Gov. Kump House in Elkins. The “Adoption Day” event will be Saturday, October 22, from noon to 2 p.m. Other accommodations will be made for those unable to attend.

“We are very excited to offer participants the chance to pick out their special tree,” said Marilynn Cuonzo, Elkins Tree Board (ETB) chairman. “Our tree nursery is filled with good-sized varieties, both flowering and non-flowering, that need good homes. We particularly encourage families to participate.”

Sam Adams, urban forester with the WV Division of Forestry, will be on hand that day to provide tree planting advice and conduct a hands-on pruning workshop beginning at 11 a.m. ETB member Linda Burke, silviculturist with the U.S. Forest Service, will also offer assistance. This event is free and open to the public. Both activities will take place rain or shine.

Residents in all five wards are encouraged to fill out the application. The selected tree owner commits to taking care of the tree for a minimum of three years, and board members are available to provide advice throughout that period. The homeowner is also responsible for planting the tree within two weeks of receiving it.

The trees should preferably be planted in front of the home or business. The type of tree will vary according to the site location. The preferred location is in the designated tree lawn, the grassy area between the street and the sidewalk; however, the overall goal is to create a green, cooling canopy for the city, wherever trees can be placed.

The program’s goal is to continue to cool the streetscape, provide shade for those walking on city sidewalks and encourage everyone to plant more trees in town. The benefits of planting trees are numerous. Not only do trees improve the aesthetics of a neighborhood, but they also assist with lowering water run-off and reducing air-conditioning costs and noise pollution. Most importantly, trees remove significant amounts of carbon dioxide from the air, reducing climate change’s impact.

Applications are available online on the Elkins Friends of Trees Facebook page, the City of Elkins website, and at Elkins City Hall (401 Davis Avenue). The deadline for submission is October 14, 2022. For those unable to attend “Adoption Day,” the ETB will deliver them to the homeowner no later than October 30.

The Gov. Kump House is located on Randolph Ave. across from Kroger. Parking is available behind the property.

The Elkins Tree Board meets the first Tuesday of the month at 5:30 p.m. in the Darden House adjacent to City Hall. The public is welcome to attend. However, the next ETB meeting will be on October 11 due to the Forest Festival. The board offers various workshops and volunteer opportunities throughout the year, and those interested are encouraged to visit the Elkins Friends of Trees Facebook page.

For further information, contact Nanci Bross-Fregonara, Elkins Tree Board, nbross-fregonara@cityofelkinswv.com.

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Photo: Elkins Tree Board and Elkins Friends of Trees members prepare tree stock in the city tree nursery behind the Gov. Kump House, Elkins, for the Adopt-A-Tree program. This annual event offers free trees to city residents who apply.