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Date: 3/8/2023
WESTFIELD — At the March 2 City Council meeting, Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane graciously conceded to Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy for his win in the second year of the Greening the Gateway Cities tree planting competition downtown.
“As many of you know, there’s a competition between Ward 2 and Ward 3,” Matthews-Kane explained at the end of the council meeting. Greening the Gateway Cities is a state program that offers free tree plantings in urban areas, when requested by property owners or abutters of public property. The area served in Westfield covers the two downtown wards, and the councilors have a friendly competition to see which ward can request and receive the most tree plantings.
Matthews-Kane said in the first year in 2022, Ward 3 was the winner, planting 130 trees to 78 trees in Ward 2.
“Sadly, in the second year, the winner is Ward 2 and Councilor Figy has the most trees planted in his ward,” Matthews-Kane said. In 2022, Ward 2 residents planted 79 trees through the program during the spring and fall planting seasons, and Ward 3 planted 59 trees.
Matthews-Kane said in this competition, “the loser has to buy the winner treats from their ward. As many of you know, Chrissy G’s is in Ward 3, and they made me wonderful tree cookies,” she told FIgy publicly, and invited him to come and partake. She also said next year will be the tie-breaker.
“It was a long time coming. I have to thank all of the residents in Ward 2 that volunteered to take on trees. It will be an interesting rubber match for sure,” Figy said.
After hearing about the victory and prize to the winner, the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Sarah Greenleaf, who is the lead in the Greening the Gateway Cities program, said she was impressed by the cookies.
“Holy cow, those cookies are amazing,” she said.
Greenleaf also advised residents on how to get a jump on 2023 tree plantings. She said spring planting season begins in the middle of April, and residents may call 617-626-1473 or visit maurbancanopy.org to schedule a site visit and get free trees planted at their property.
Greenleaf reminded residents who received trees from the Greening the Gateway Cities program within the last two years to be ready to start watering at the first sign of spring, when buds swell and the leaves start to come out.
She said the Greening the Gateway Cities is hiring seasonal tree planting laborers. To apply, visit bit.ly/rp15oz.
“Thanks for continued support and congratulations to Ralph on his win,” Greenleaf said.