St. Pete Standard

The City of St. Petersburg, through the Office of Sustainability and Resilience (OSR) and its St. Pete Forestry program, is set to host a series of Citizen Forestry Town Halls in May, as reported on May 3, 2024. These town hall meetings aim to gather public input on various environmental concerns related to trees in the city.

According to the announcement, the Citizen Forestry Town Halls will employ live polling and a collaborative group approach to involve residents in discussions about crucial tree-related issues. The sessions will focus on topics such as the heat island effect, community resilience, and the preservation of the tree canopy. The insights gathered from these engagements will play a significant role in shaping strategies to address key environmental challenges in St. Petersburg.

Interested individuals are encouraged to participate in the scheduled community sessions by registering through the provided links. The sessions are scheduled to take place on the following dates and locations:

- Wednesday, May 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Bay Vista Recreation Center

- Thursday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. at Shore Acres Recreation Center

- Monday, May 20 at 6:20 p.m. at Campbell Park Recreation Center

- Wednesday, May 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Willis S. Johns Recreation Center

- Thursday, May 23 at 6:30 p.m. at Walter Fuller Recreation Center

Moreover, the Citizen Forestry Town Halls will not only serve as a platform for public input but also contribute to the development of a comprehensive five-year community education program based on the data collected directly from residents. The sessions aim to accommodate a limited number of participants, with reservations capped at the first 50 residents for each session.

In case residents are unable to attend the May sessions, alternative dates in June may be arranged to cater to the interest and demand of the community. For those looking for more information on Urban Forestry, they can visit stpete.org/Trees.

The City of St. Petersburg's initiative to engage residents in discussions about urban forestry highlights the importance of community involvement in addressing environmental concerns and fostering sustainable practices within the city.