Rochester Reporter

The City of Rochester's Urban Forest Master Plan has been honored with the Public Outreach Award by the New York Upstate Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA). Mayor Malik D. Evans announced the accolade, highlighting the collaborative efforts behind the plan.

“This recognition highlights the exceptional commitment our residents and City staff have to transform our environment for the better,” stated Mayor Evans. He expressed pride in the Urban Forest Master Plan, which aims to preserve and enhance Rochester’s green spaces.

The development of this plan involved a partnership between the City's Forestry Division staff, Highland Planning, an advisory committee, and members of the Community Tree Ambassador program. This collaboration ensured that community input was integral to the planning process.

Tanya Mooza Zwahlen, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Highland Planning LLC, remarked on the significance of community engagement in developing the plan: “The 2024 Rochester Urban Forest Master Plan showcases the power of innovative community engagement, celebrating and reimagining our urban forest.”

Outreach for this project involved over 1,200 residents through various strategies such as door-to-door visits, public meetings, and pop-up events. Key outreach initiatives included hiring community tree ambassadors for each city quadrant who organized meetings and events like tree plantings. Public meetings attracted more than 150 participants who engaged in activities like writing love letters to trees. Additionally, an online survey gathered 425 responses providing insights into community perceptions.

The Urban Forest Master Plan was last updated in 2012 and outlines policies for managing approximately 67,000 trees along city streets and within parks and cemeteries.

For further details about the Urban Forest Master Plan, visit www.cityofrochester.gov/UrbanForestMasterPlan.