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The city of Marietta is digging in to plant 500 trees this year to help the environment and beautify Marietta's major corridors.
Experts in tree planting and beautification efforts worked with city staff and members of our tree committee to determine locations in the city where there would be maximum impact, both visually and environmentally. The city determined approximately 10 locations in Marietta needed canopy cover for the city's future and ranked the locations in terms of where to begin and end the plantings.
The current tree plantings are phase one of a tree master plan the city and community developed two ago for greening and beautifying the major corridors coming into Marietta. Over 265 trees have been planted in areas that haven't had adequate greenery along corridors in the past including North Marietta Parkway across from Marietta Power and Water; Cole Street at North Marietta Parkway; Tower Road from James Street to Kennesaw Avenue; South Marietta Parkway from Alexander Street to Atlanta Street; Atlanta Road from South Cobb Drive to South Marietta Parkway.
The second phase, underway in 2009, includes replacing trees where there are already established trees, like on Church and Cherokee streets and Kennesaw and Whitlock avenues, to ensure a great tree canopy when the current trees reach the end of their life span. Tree plantings are underway along the North and South Loops as well as along Church and Cherokee streets.
Tree funding
The plantings are funded through the city's alternative compliance tree fund, to which developers pay money that is used to plant trees in public spaces when their development site is too constrained to fit trees required by the city's tree ordinance.
Marietta's dedication to tree coverage and protection
Establishing good and continuous tree coverage and canopy is a goal City Council established as part of Marietta's vision statement, and the city's tree protection and landscaping ordinance helps preserve and/or replace trees as part of the land development process.
For more information, call Marietta's Public Works Department at 770-794-5650.