City Marks Milestone In Tree Plantings

Keep Indianapolis Beautiful plants 3,500 trees across the city every year.

Spokesperson Ashley Haynes said about half of the trees are planted in vulnerable areas to decrease stormwater overflow and flooding.

“It will be a number of years before they are fully grown and really capturing all that stormwater, the work that we are doing right now is to set Indianapolis neighborhoods for success in the future to reduce the number of stormwater overflow,” Haynes said.

Citizens Energy Group, Indy Parks, and Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett will join volunteers in Haughville Park Saturday, at 9 a.m. to plant the 5,000th tree as part of Citizens’ 10 Thousand Trees initiative, in support of its DigIndy Tunnel System project, which will nearly eliminate sewer overflows into local waterways by 2025.

It’s estimated 10,000 mature trees can capture up to one million gallons of stormwater during rain events.

“This tree planting helps beautify our city and parks and contributes to cleaner rivers and streams for our community,” said Jeffrey Harrison, president & CEO, Citizens Energy Group.