Work is set to begin this week on a project to plant 120 new trees in seven city parks. It is the latest effort by the administration to enhance and expand the city’s “urban canopy” using nearly $3 million in state and federal grants for tree-related projects.

In a statement, Noble said the city had already purchased 120 trees each standing six to nine feet tall from Schichtel's nursery in Springville. They will be planted in Loughran Park, Barmann Park, Block Park, Cornell Park, Hasbrouck Park and Hutton Park. The project will overlap with a separate effort to plant 60 new street trees along Elmendorf Street to combat the “urban heat island” effect where superheated pavement can cause higher nighttime temperatures during periods of hot temperatures.

“These trees will add shade to the parks’ larger recreation areas, as well as walking paths and parking lots,” Noble wrote. “I look forward to seeing these new trees flourish in our parks and provide shade and respite for generations to come.”

Since 2021, Noble’s administration has amassed $2.8 million in state and federal grants to support tree planting efforts and work towards a goal of placing 1,000 new trees around the city by 2030. Noble has also sought legislation to better protect trees on both municipal and private property. Earlier this year, in the face of strong public opposition, the Kingston Common Council voted down a law pushed by Noble which would have given the city authority over trees on private property and required owners who removed healthy trees to either replace them with new ones or pay steep fees into a tree protection fund.