The Park People are going out on a limb, here, extending the application deadline for the annual Denver Digs Trees sapling giveaway.
Varieties selected for their potential to thrive in the Colorado climate – think maples, elms, linden, oak, serviceberry and hawthorn – will be distributed free to 19 targeted neighborhoods – Baker, Barnum, Barnum West, Cole, Clayton, Elyria/ Swansea, Five Points, Globeville, Jefferson Park, Lincoln Park, NE Park Hill, Skyland, Sunnyside, Sun Valley, Valverde, Villa Park, West Colfax, Westwood and Whittier – and for $20 each for everyplace else. It’s a chance to get on board with Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper’s vision to green the urban core with 1 million new trees.
This is Denver Digs Trees’ 16th round. So far, 28,000 trees have been planted on public property – like the easements between city streets and the sidewalks – through the program.
Trees will be distributed at six locations on Earth Day April 21, but to qualify for a tree, you must submit a street-tree request by Friday.
Applications are available at thepark people.org, or by calling 303-722-6262 or e-mailing info@theparkpeople.org.
Apply early, and apply often: To reach Hickenlooper’s goal of shading streets with a million new trees over the next 20 years, 71 will need to be planted on each of the Denver’s estimated 14,000 city blocks.
