Joplin Parks and Recreation receives $10,000 grant for trimming trees at city parks, Joe Becker Stadium

(From the Joplin Parks and Recreation Department)

Joplin Parks and Recreation Department is pleased to announce its continued partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and their Tree Resource Improvement and Maintenance (TRIM) Grant program.

This year, the TRIM grant has added $10,000 to the City’s efforts of tree trimming on nearly 800 trees in Landreth, Ewert, Garvin, Mercy, and Schifferdecker Parks, along with Joe Becker Stadium, and Joplin Athletic Complex. Pruning young trees allows setting the structure of the tree for the future which reduces future structural problems that may lead to early tree failure, potential safety issues, and removal earlier in the tree’s life than necessary.

“With the assistance of the Missouri Department of Conservation, our resources for proper tree care has been extended,” said Jake Cowen with Parks and Recreation. “TRIM has helped us conduct an extensive tree survey to learn more about the health of our tree canopy. Following that work, our focus is now about caring for our greenways. Trimming is an important and necessary step in order to provide a stronger tree canopy in our parks for our community.”

Previous TRIM grant allocations allowed the City to conduct survey activities related to tree inventories focusing on parks, cemeteries, and other public areas. It was conducted over a three-year period, wrapping up in 2017. This is the second year that the grant has been designated for pruning activities within Joplin’s urban forest. Other TRIM grant support has helped to purchase educational materials and conferences related to community forest care. This type of support is beneficial to the City in maintaining its Tree City USA status.

TRIM is a competitive, cost-share tree care program administered by the Missouri Department of Conservation in cooperation with the Missouri Community Forest Council. The program assists government agencies, public schools, and nonprofit groups with the management, improvement, or conservation of trees on public lands. Projects eligible for TRIM funding include tree inventory, removal or pruning of hazardous trees, tree planting, and training of volunteers and city/county employees to best care for our community forests.