(From the City of Fostoria)

We are excited to share that the City of Fostoria has been awarded $100,000 from the Ohio Urban Forestry Division to continue strengthening and revitalizing our city’s urban forest.

Many of you know we previously received a $1 million American Forestry grant at the federal level. While that funding supported critical early phases of our overall Urban Forestry Program, this new state-level grant will allow us to move into Phase 3: Tree Planting and Establishment.

-Where We Are in the Urban Forestry Program

Phase 1 – Public Tree Inventory & Risk Assessment

Completed by Davey Resource Group and funded through the American Forestry grant. This work provided a citywide evaluation of all public trees and identified hazardous or declining trees needing removal.

Phase 2 – Urban Forest Management & Master Planting Plan

Completed last week. This plan identifies all vacant planting sites throughout the city and recommends appropriate species for both replacement plantings and future canopy health.

Phase 3 – Tree Planting & Establishment (Now Funded!)

This new Urban Forestry grant will be focused on downtown Fostoria, specifically replacing all Callery pear trees, which are recognized as an invasive species. Many of our urban trees were planted at the same time decades ago, leading to many of them declining at the same time as well. Removing invasive or hazardous trees and replanting with healthy, diverse, and site-appropriate species will greatly improve the long-term health of our canopy.

-What to Expect Downtown

Our Tree & Beautification Commission has been working diligently to select the right species for the right locations while considering storefront visibility, safety, root behavior, sidewalk impacts, and long-term maintenance.

In the coming weeks, we will begin delivering informational materials to downtown business owners and tenants. For now, please note:

-All trees on Main Street from South Street to North Street will be removed and replaced as soon as possible.

-Behind the Scenes

We are actively using TreeKeeper, our new tree-management software, to log calls, track work orders, and ensure our crews are addressing needs efficiently.

A big thank you to Botimer Tree Service, Ernie Russell Stump Removal, and our own City of Fostoria crews for their hard work in improving our urban forest.

-Questions About a City Tree?

If you have a question about a tree in the boulevard in front of your home or if you notice a tree that may pose a hazard, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and sustainable urban canopy for generations to come.

Fostoria’s future is growing—literally!