Strathcona is a little greener these days thanks to the Hastings Urban Tree Nursery project.
The project, which took three years of planning and preparation to come to fruition, sees 14 saplings in locally made planters line seven blocks of East Hastings, between Carrall and Princess streets.
The concrete planters will eventually be decorated by neighbourhood painters to reflect each unique block of the street, according to Meg O’Shea, sustainability coordinator for the Strathcona Business Improvement Association, which spearheaded the project.
After three to five years, when the trees are stable enough to be transplanted, they will be auctioned off to pay for more saplings and the process will start anew — making the project a true urban nursery, O’Shea said.
As a way to engage young people in the community with the project, youth from the Ray-Cam Co-operative Centre will be learning about tree health and tasked with monitoring the trees. In the fall, an arborist will work with the youth to prune the trees.
Hastings Street organizations and businesses will water the trees during hot months, clear out any debris from the tree wells and keep the BIA informed of the condition of the trees and planters.
Haenna Blusch, director of operations for the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House, is excited about the new additions in front of his centre at East Hastings and Princess Street. He said the trees fit with the overall green philosophy of his organization and will create a more inviting place for residents to gather.
“I think it will make it a better atmosphere for all the people, “ he said, adding many Strathcona residents like to come by and chat about plants the centre has in its garden, so the trees will be conversation pieces as well.
Blusch said the trees may even improve the impression some people have of the East Side.
“If they drive through they will see, ‘ah, there are trees and there are people hanging out by the trees’,” Blusch said.
O’Shea said many of the staff in businesses along Hastings are equally enthusiastic about the project. The BIA has more businesses willing to help care for the trees than there are trees available.
The entire project cost $30,000 and was funded by the City of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside Capital grant, TD Green Streets and Tree Canada.
For more information on the Hastings Urban Tree Nursery go to strathconabia.com/street-beautification.
