The following testimonials demonstrate the value of Environmental Stewardship Grants to communities. The grant program was created by DJ Scully, Campbell County Extension Agent for Natural Resources and Environmental Management, and is funded by the Extension District Board.  “To whom it may concern:  My name is Ed Davis and I am currently the president of The Westside Citizen's Coalition, the neighborhood organization for the west side of Newport, Kentucky.  During the last three years we, along with two other community organizations, ReNewport and the Buena Vista Historic District, have received grants from several organizations, including the Campbell County Extension Service, to plant trees in our urban environment.  The grants from the Campbell County Extension Service have accounted for at least half of the nearly 200 trees that we have planted in the west side of Newport, an area that is greatly lacking in green space of any kind.  The effects of this are numerous and are becoming more visible every day.

One of the first things that is noticeable are the new trees.  As we have planted, we have targeted certain blocks of streets for the plantings.  Many of these blocks resembled concrete deserts, most with no street trees at all, some with one or two.  Each of the targeted areas now have anywhere from 6 to 10 new curbside trees.  Although the trees are young they are already providing beauty and some shade.  Block by block we are increasing the tree canopy and reducing the heat index on this side of the city.  With the grants from the Extension Service and other organizations, we estimate that the tree canopy for Newport's west side has increased by at least one third and with future plantings we expect to double the existing tree canopy.  

Another effect of the tree plantings is the building of community.  Before the plantings happen we engage with the city of Newport to help us with site preparation.  If some parts of sidewalks need to removed, the city provides this service.  When they are unable to do this, Totally Concrete, a Newport company, is very happy to provide this service for us.  The city also delivers the trees to their future homes.  When we do our plantings we ask for volunteers from throughout the city to help.  With each successive planting we have more and more people wanting to participate.  For our last planting date we had at least 25 volunteers.  The volunteers come from our three organizations as well as Newport High School, Northern Kentucky University, Newport City Commission, the East Row Historic District and other residents of our city who want to be part of the future.  This helps to show everyone that we are in this together and it is our city.

As we have planted the trees, the reactions from the residents of Newport's west side have been amazing!  We have heard "Thank you!", "I want a tree at my house!", "The trees look beautiful!", "Someone cares about us!", and from someone who wasn't sure what we were doing, we heard "Hey, leave those trees alone!  We like them."  This is encouragement to us and it helps others to know they are not alone in their care and love for our city and its future.

During the last several decades the west side of Newport, Kentucky has been an area almost devoid of street trees and the inherent beauty they bring.  It has been an area that has experienced great neglect and a lack of caring.  It has been a part of town where most people did not want to live.  But, as is true in life, there have always been pockets of hope with the possibilities of a bright future on full display.  All it really needed was some attention.  The grants that our three organizations have received from the Campbell County Extension Service have enabled us to plant almost 100 of the west side's new street trees.  The new trees show that attention is being shown to the area.  The west side of Newport is beginning to experience change.  Once neglected houses are being rehabbed and painted.  Residents of the area are beginning to know they matter.  A community is being built.  From the city manager to the oldest resident of our area, the change is being noticed.  Our organizations believe that the simple act of planting trees has been a vital catalyst to this change.  We believe that it has helped to jumpstart the process.  We know that without the grants we have received from the Campbell County Extension Service our ability to assist in this change would have been greatly reduced.  We also know that DJ Scully, our county extension agent, has been one of the most important elements in our successful tree plantings.  DJ has made himself available whenever we have asked.  He has guided us through the choosing of proper tree species as well as the best planting sites.  Most importantly, he has always given us encouragement and appreciation of our efforts.  In closing, we want to thank the University of Kentucky, the Campbell County Extension Service and county agent DJ Scully for their help in the transformation of our area.  This is truly a group effort.  Thank you.”

Ken Rechtin, Newport Commissioner, states, “Yes, we are all aware of the benefits attributed to our trees: cleaning our air, adding beauty, reducing noise, reducing energy consumption, softening the harsh urban environment and decreasing runoff.  All this has happened in Newport!  The real benefit of those tree grants: a sense of ownership of the tree lawns, friendship among neighbors, sharing resources with others and growing together as a community.”