New Haven Urban Resources Initiative

(WTNH) - New Haven Urban Resources Initiative Community Greenspace program partners with volunteer groups to replant and restore the natural environment in the City of New Haven. Each year, hundreds of volunteers spruce up parks, recover vacant lots and plant trees to improve their community.

Neighbors initiate the process by applying to the Greenspace program, and state where and what they wish to undertake --- the idea for the project is generated by the community. URI provides technical guidance, and purchases and delivers all the materials necessary for the community to undertake the project. Then, the participating groups provide the physical labor -- by physically working together to improve their common situation, the Greenspace program provides an invaluable opportunity to unify a neighborhood.

In 2010, working with Mayor John DeStefano, URI launched an ambitious goal to plant 10,000 trees over the next five years. Last year URI met their target of planting 1,000 trees on public land.