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Cool Cities Program comes to Gloucester City

  Work crews planting 500 trees Trees 024

Five hundred trees are being planted in the City of Gloucester City, part of the a statewide urban forest energy efficiency initiative named "Cool Cities". The work crews were planting trees today (December 17) in the Riverview Heights section of the City. In the photo, the trees are being taken off a tractor-trailer parked at the corner of Thompson and Stinson Avenues.  Trees will also be planted in the Highland Park section of the City plus along Market Street down to Jersey Avenue, and parts of Broadway.

Members of the Gloucester City Tree and Beautification Committee were on hand to supervise the planting. There is no charge to the taxpayers for the trees which cost $250 each. Nor is there any charge for the planting of the trees, said John Schmidt a member of the Tree and Beautification Committee. .

The idea behind the Cool Cities program began under former Gov. Jim McGreevey.  "By planting trees in New Jersey's urban areas, we can absorb more air pollution, significantly cool elevated temperatures in cities, lower energy costs and improve the overall quality of life in our urban communities," said McGreevey in 2003.  "Simply put, urban trees make our cities cleaner, more pleasant, and more affordable places to live."

A NJDEP press release reads, "temperatures in urban settings are often five degrees above surrounding suburbs and rural areas, which is referred to as the 'urban heat island' effect, and trees can help lower these urban temperatures by as much as six to nineteen degrees. This increase in temperature is bad for many urban residents' health. Hotter weather increases the frequency of heat-related health problems, such as heat exhaustion, and induces more asthma attacks, as the heat concentrates air pollution and speeds up smog formation. In addition, higher temperatures result in more expensive utility bills as residents run their air conditioners longer.

"In addition to providing shade from the sun, trees cool the air by excreting droplets of water that draw heat as they evaporate, which is a process called " evapotranspiration. Trees also absorb sound, prevent erosion and provide habitats for birds and animals. Their leaves help improve air quality by absorbing noxious gases and trapping particulate matter from the air. Trees also help filter and clean water supplies, reduce water runoff, flooding, erosion and storm water management costs. Trees make towns more attractive to business and tourism, transforming a neighborhood's appearance and increasing home market value, as they bring nature closer to where we live and work."

By Bill Cleary

 

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