Grants give root to 1,700 trees in Ind.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Fifteen popular Indiana cities, towns, and non-profits are planting more than 1,700 trees using grant money. The money was awarded through the Department of Natural Resource’s Community and Urban Forestry (CUF) program.

A healthy urban tree canopy can improve water quality, help communities conserve energy, lower city temperatures, and reduce air pollution, a news release from the DNR stated. The DNR said Indiana fall shorts of a national recommendation that a tree canopy covers 45 percent of land in a city or town.

The grants are funded by the USDA Forest Service and administered through CUF. Keep Indianapolis Beautiful was one of the grant winners, receiving $7,500.

Other grant awards went to: Arrowhead Country RC&D for Winamac, $2,000; Dana, $10,600; Evansville, $7,500; Fishers, $10,000; Fort Wayne, $10,500; Goshen, $5,850; Regreening Greenfield, $8,000; Kokomo, $5,000; LaPorte, $5,000; Michigan City, $6,000; South Whitley, $4,500; Valparaiso, $10,500; Washington Township/Westfield, $7,500; and West Lafayette, $5,000.