Kent Wants to Add Greenery Downtown

City officials are hopeful to replace some of the trees and greenery removed for downtown construction via a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Kent development officials plan to submit a grant application to the ODNR, which is offering grants to projects that promote restoration of urban tree canopies.

Kent Community Development Department Director Bridget Susel said there is no local cash match required, and the city can request up to $25,000.

"We can actually use it to replace tree canopy that’s been removed for economic development initiatives," Susel said. "And needless to say, we have done that."

The application is due Nov. 30.

The city has already started replacing some trees removed as part of the downtown redevelopment.

In October, contracted workers with The Davey Tree Expert Company started planting new trees on Erie Street. In total, the city will add 27 trees as part of the redevelopment, and that includes trees on Erie, South Water and South DePeyster streets along with trees in the new parking lot.

Susel said Kent's project qualifies because its considered to be within the Cuyahoga River area of concern by the ODNR.

"Replacing the tree canopy downtown was something we wanted to look towards," she said. "I think we have a really good chance."