EAST PROVIDENCE — The City of East Providence recently announced received a $20,000 TD Bank Group and the Arbor Day Foundation “to support innovative urban greening and tree planting projects in underserved communities.”

The city, one of 20 U.S. and Canadian cities selected to receive a grant, plans to use the money to plant a bio diverse grove of native trees with species tags and educational signage for the public, as well as the build out of an outdoor classroom in October inside the circular grove that will support educational activities.

May 4 planting
East Providence used portions of the grant to plant a second grove of trees at the Hull Street park adjacent to the Emma G. Whiteknact Elementary School on Tuesday, May 4, joining forces with the new East Providence Urban Forest community group.

A total of 14 native trees were planted in the park with neighbors, students, families and school faculty all participating in the event.

Arbor Day
The Rhode Island Tree Council (RITree), together with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management hosted Rhode Island Arbor Day ceremonies in East Providence for the first time on Friday, April 30.

The event revealed the planting of 15 evergreen and shade saplings of Arborvitae, Red maple, Pin oak, American linden and Tuliptree also at Hull Street.