Volunteers donating their time and sweat at planting events over the years have played a big part in creating Covington’s urban canopy.

Saturday event targets shade-poor streets in West Latonia

COVINGTON, Ky. – Looking to do something worthwhile this weekend? How about helping to establish a verdant canopy of trees along City streets?

The Covington Urban Forestry Board will plant roughly 80 trees in West Latonia on Saturday, and they need volunteers to help get it done.

A range of beauties will take root that day: American hornbeam … “American Dream” swamp white oak … “Greenspire” littleleaf linden … “Green Gable” tupelo … “Exclamation” and “Bloodgood” London plane trees … bald cypress … “Perkins Pink” yellowwood … “Espresso” coffeetree … parrotia … “Royal Burgundy” and Kwanzan cherries … scarlet oak … “Sterling Silver” linden … and “Princeton” American elms.

The trees will be carefully selected to match the size of the spot in which they’ll be planted, and those spots will spread over 13 blocks that have few to even zero street trees, said Cassandra Homan, the City of Covington’s Urban Forester.

“We’re planting in West Latonia because they’re one of our neighborhoods with a canopy of under 40 percent,” said Homan, referencing what’s considered a minimum canopy for residential areas before external benefits become evident (think lower rates of heart disease and asthma, and lower crime rates to name a few). “In fact, 10 of the 13 blocks have three or fewer trees, and four of the blocks have no trees at all.”

Homan said the non-profit Keep Covington Beautiful will provide refreshments and is helping solicit volunteers, while the Ohio Valley Forestry Fellowship will bring tree-planting experts and extra shovels.

About the event

• When: 9 a.m. to about noon (depending upon number of volunteers).
• Where: Meet at West 35th Street & Carlisle Avenue.
• Sign-up: Registration HERE isn’t mandatory but will help planning refreshments.
• What to wear: Study shoes and clothes that can get dirty. Face masks are optional.
• What to bring: Shovel and gloves if you have them, although some will be provided.
• Weather: The planting will happen rain or shine, but if it’s a downpour or there’s lightning, the event will be postponed until next week. Check the Facebook pages of the Urban Forestry Board or the City for last-minute changes.
• Questions? Contact Homan at Cassandra.Homan@CovingtonKY.gov or (859) 292-2300.

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