RED DEER, AB, June 28 /CNW/ - The City of Red Deer is pleased to announce it has been selected by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation (TD FEF) and Tree Canada to receive a $15,000 grant from the TD Green Streets program for its 2010/2011 urban reforestation program. A record 110 applications were submitted to the 2010 TD Green Streets program, and the City of Red Deer is one of 20 municipalities selected to receive a grant.

The funding will support the City's plan to replace dead and dying Black Ash trees in four residential neighbourhoods, as a result of Cottony Ash Psyllid insect damage. Forty new trees, representing five different species, will be planted in the communities of Aspen Ridge, Inglewood, Lancaster Green and Johnstone Park. Funds will also support the City's community planting initiatives, which will see the planting of more than 6000 seedlings by over 100 local volunteers in 2010/11.

"The City of Red Deer is pleased that our application to the TD Green Streets program has been successful. As a municipality, we are committed to environmental sustainability and we believe our citizens benefit from a greener city which increases the health of and quality of life in our community," said Dave Matthews, Planning & Technical Services Supervisor with The City of Red Deer. "Thanks to TD Green Streets, we will be able to increase the diversity of our urban forest, as well as continue our naturalization efforts through our successful community seedling program."

The community planting project benefits the entire region by reforesting areas that were cleared because of urban development and previous farming operations.

"The goal of TD Green Streets is to encourage the adoption of leading-edge practices in municipal forests, and we want to commend the City of Red Deer for developing a plan that will provide such a great enhancement to the environment," said Mary Desjardins, Executive Director, TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. "The plantings will provide habitat and food for wildlife and improve air quality, as well as promote community involvement in the protection and preservation of our urban forest."

How recipients were chosen: Applications to the 2010 TD Green Streets program were open to Canadian municipalities, First Nations communities and Business Improvement Associations (BIAs) in Vancouver and Toronto. All submissions were reviewed by regional Tree Canada Advisors, Board Members, urban forest practitioners and TD Friends of the Environment Foundation representatives based on innovation, community involvement and technical expertise.

"We are pleased to be working with the City of Red Deer on their TD Green Streets project," said Michael Rosen, Tree Canada President. "In addition to planting caliper trees to replace those lost to insect infestation, the City will be engaged in some great educational programs including: tree planting demonstrations, pruning courses, and collaborating to develop classroom presentations for the new Science and Technology School."

For more information on the 2010 TD Green Streets winning submissions, visit www.tdgreenstreets.ca.

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