Hunting Park goes green with new trees

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - Philadelphia has been on a decade-long mission to add trees across the city. But, parts of North Philly have been missing out.

There is a new effort to change that.

More than a dozen trees are sprouting new leaves and new life into the Hunting Park neighborhood.

It isn't too cold to plant trees. The new trees are a part of the Tree Tender program. About ten years ago, the city teamed with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society with the goal of restoring the tree canopy to 30 percent of the entire Philadelphia region.

The problem for residents in Hunting Park is only four percent is tree covered. The reason, say some, is in the predominantly Spanish speaking area, there's a language barrier. Neighbors have been missing out on free tree planting opportunities as a result.

The non-profit Esperanza stepped in to get the ball rolling. 16 trees have since been planted up and down the 400 block of West Cayuga Street.

Part of the program includes teaching neighbors how to care for the trees.