Newport Commissioner Ken Rechtin is asking residents to donate money for trees to make up for a $1 million grant that was lost.
Newport announced in February that it would no longer receive a $1 million grant for tree planting in its West end. Through the grant, the city planned to have volunteers plant 1,000 trees over the next five years.
Rechtin held up two $100 bills at an April 7 meeting, which a friend had given him to put toward the effort.
“The folks that have talked to me about this-maybe trees are not a federal issue, and I can make an argument both ways, but the game we’re in, the rules that have been played now and put before us-he said, we’re going to have to think globally and act locally,” Rechtin said. “So, I think the time has come that we all start taking ownership of the tree program.”
The city recently received a $150,000 commitment from PLK Communities for tree planting in the west end, which is attached to a housing development currently in the works.
During Rechtin’s comments, Newport Commissioner Mike Radwanski said he would match a donation if Rechtin also contributed $200 of his own money. They both agreed to donate to the cause.
To donate to the tree planting fund through ReNewport, click here.