the project
Our neighborhood is a commercial district with heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic on lower Madison Avenue and side streets between East 30th and 33rd Streets. Our volunteer tree care team needs funding to purchase sturdy metal tree guards to protect street trees from dog waste, pedestrians compacting soil and delivery truck drivers unloading freight. This would also give trees enough space to grow for many years to come. Tree guards improve our street trees' health and beautify our neighborhood.
These trees absorb carbon dioxide, reducing air pollution, and provide shady canopies on hot summer days. Targeted street trees are NOT in a business improvement district.
the steps
1. In April, team leader Victoria Watkins and tree care team members will alert local residents and business people to this fundraising opportunity to sustain our urban forest.
2. Team members will communicate to business people and residents the value of treepit guards protecting neighborhood trees. Include photo of new tree guard installed last year around the perimeter of the tree pit on the northeast corner of 32nd Street and Madison Avenue. 3. Ask for donations to buy tree guards. 4. Obtain permits to install tree pits guards from the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. 5. Request cost estimates to for tree pit guards. We prefer purchasing matching tree guards from Curb Allure, the same manufacturer that installed an attractive, durable, rust-resistant tree guard on the 32nd Street side of 153 Madison Avenue last November. This design complies with the Parks Department's requirements: 18 inches high and an open bottom to allow storm water to flow into the tree pit. Curb Allure tree guards are also appealing because damaged modular components are easily replaced using proprietary screws, a huge advantage over tree guards welded together. 6. Install tree pit guards using tree care team volunteers or professionals from the manufacturer. 7. Send thank you note to donors. Include photos of new tree guards around tree pits.
why we're doing it
After we removed graffiti eyesores and persuaded the Department of Sanitation to add more litter baskets on busy street corners, we asked Million Trees NYC to plant street trees. When 14 trees went in, several people made the same spontaneous comment to our team: “It’s beginning to look like a neighborhood!” Since November 2009, tree care team members have been adopting and caring for new trees, as well as older, neglected trees. We have been scrapping together funds for soil and compost, Treegators watering bags and tree pit guards from our personal funds.
Preserving and protecting our street trees is a civic activity that brings residents and business people in the community together.
budget
Curb Allure (212) 769-0777
http://curballure.com/
We need to buy tree guards for two trees on the 32nd Street side of 153 Madison Avenue.
Estimated costs from Curb Allure:
$1,075 tree guard (rails, panels, urine shields, sit spikes)
$ 50 shipping
$ 160 installation by Curb Allure
$1,285 total before tax
$ 114 sales tax at 8.875%
$1,399 total for 1 tree guard
Project Total: $2798.00
3% credit card processing fee: $83.94
5% ioby fiscal sponsorship fee: $139.90
ioby Materials & Labor Fee: $35
Total to Raise: $3056.84
Total Raised : $1600
Third party credit card processing (3%) = $43.47
Fiscal sponsorship (5%) = $72.45
ioby materials and labor = $35
Total disbursed to group = $1,449.07
updates
Thank you!
Posted 07/09/2012 - 11:28am
Thanks to ioby's support and contributions from neighborhood residents and a local business, the Lower Madison Partnership purchased two sturdy and elegant tree guards for trees on East 32nd Street near Madison Avenue. Victoria Watkins, captain of the Tree Care Team, worked the NYC Parks Department and Curb Allure, the tree guard manufacturer, to obtain city permits to install tree guards in tree pits. On Saturday, June 23, 2012, Curb Allure assembled and installed tree guards on this block. Their attentiveness to safety and proper installation was top-notch, with everyone working together to ensure tree guard alignment with the sidewalk.
It is a huge relief to know our young street trees are protected from four-legged friends, pedestrians compacting soil, building trash bags and delivery truck drivers unloading freight. This project gives trees enough space to grow for many years to come. Tree guards improve our street trees' health and beautify our neighborhood. The Lower Madison Partnership is grateful to ioby for helping us bring this environmental project to fruition.
Above: Brian (left) and Donnie (right), two Curb Allure employees, assembling a tree guard for installation on 32nd Street. Saturday, June 23, 2012.
Above: Donnie, a Curb Allure employee, driving a stake into the tree pit to anchor a tree guard on 32nd Street. Saturday, June 23, 2012.
Above: Left to right, Victoria, Donnie and Brian standing behind a new tree guard installed on East 32nd Street. Saturday, June 23, 2012.
Above: One of two tree guards installed on 32nd Street. Picture taken Sunday, June 24, 2012.
photos
This is where photos will go once we build flickr integrationdonors
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Alexandra W.
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Caroline G.
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Caroline G.
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Victoria W.
