FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2021
CONTACT INFO. :
Office of the Mayor
Patricia Resende
(401) 529-3207
presende@eastprovidenceri.gov
East Providence home to Champion Trees
EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – Four trees located in East Providence were designated as “Champion” trees by the Rhode Island Tree Council.
When John Campanini of the Rhode Island Tree Council, visited East Providence to measure the Weaver Beech Tree, located in front of Weaver Library, he was surprised to find that three other trees qualified as Champion Trees. The trees were significant for their size as well as cultural and historical importance in Rhode Island.
This year, the Weaver Copper Beech is listed among the top 10 in Rhode Island alongside the Weaver Gingko, which ranked as fourth largest in the state. East Providence is also home to a tall Red Oak between the post office and the Weaver House, which measured 20th in the state. The City’s greatest champion may be the Eastern Cottonwood tree near the RIDOT facility on Warren Avenue, which was awarded as the No.1 Champion Tree of this species in the entire state.
RI Tree Council has provided a certificate of authenticity to the city of East Providence for these notable tree specimens. The designation of the Copper Beech as a Champion Tree will also help with securing funding for care and preservation of the tree. The tree is in need of pruning and the soil around the tree is compacted, threatening the health of the tree. RI Tree Council will help the City address these issues in early spring of next year.
In July, East Providence Urban Forest, a group of neighbors working to conserve the City’s trees for future generations, submitted the application for the Weaver Copper Beech.
“Submitting the application for the tree was done to highlight the importance of mature trees as champions of our urban forest,” Jenn Tierney of EPUF said. “Mature trees reduce air pollution by 60 percent, along with asthma, skin cancer and hypertension, to name a few benefits.”
“Trees, like the Newman Red Oak, are also important to East Providence’s history and culture -- not to mention beauty," Tierney added.
“Thank you to RI Tree Council for awarding these champion trees here in East Providence,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “This award will not only provide recognition for the importance of the trees, but also give the city the financial resources to keep them alive for many more years.”
RI Tree Council is also partnering with the city of East Providence on a tree planting and Arbor Day Celebration at the Hull Street Park & Playground adjacent to Whiteknact Elementary School, in April 2021. RI Tree will provide the trees and necessary equipment for planting shade trees in several locations around the park and playground, as well as a row of tall growing arborvitaes to provide a visual and sound barrier between the park and Interstate-195. This spring, the East Providence Parks Department is also working directly with East Providence Urban Forest to organize neighborhood tree inventory sessions to create a precise map of the city’s urban forest. More details to follow in early 2021.
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For more information on the “Champion” trees in East Providence or East Providence Urban Forest, contact Jenn Tierney at jenntierney29@gmail.com.
