Renderings of the Lafitte Greenway via The Lafitte Greenway Master Plan.

The City of New Orleans Department of Parks and Parkways announced today (December 12) that it will install over 240 trees citywide throughout the month of December.  This installation is part of the ongoing reforestation efforts by the Department of Parks and Parkways and its non-profit partners to combat the loss of nearly 20 percent of the city’s urban forest due to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Isaac.

According to a city press release, this planting initiative will bring the department’s 2017 tree-planting total to approximately 400 trees, a total investment of $114,055, and includes 80 trees installed through non-profit partnerships with Sustaining Our Urban Landscape (SOUL), NOLA Tree Project, Groundwork New Orleans and Global Green.

Recently, 1,100 trees were given away during Parks and Parkways annual Tree Giveaway event in partnership with NOLA Tree Project.

“This citywide tree planting initiative works toward fulfillment of our green infrastructure goals in the city’s Master Plan,” said Ann Macdonald, Director of Parks and Parkways. “Trees provide many benefits for New Orleans.  They cool the environment, clean the air, reduce flooding, improve property values and, most importantly, improve our quality of life.”

In addition to the new and replacement public trees in the various neighborhoods, Parks and Parkways is developing an educational arboretum at its campus in Gentilly. The garden of trees will showcase trees that are suitable for storm water management projects and adaptable to climate conditions in Orleans Parish.