Aspinwall will see 26 trees planted, many along Center and Western avenues

Aspinwall will be home to more than two dozen new trees this fall, thanks to a grant from the nonprofit TreeVitalize.

Alicia Wehrle, community forestry project coordinator, said 26 trees will be planted.

Half will go into the ground Oct. 22 along Western Avenue and First Street.

The balance will be planted Oct. 27 along Center Avenue, Fifth Street and Freeport Road.

Work will begin at about 7:30 a.m. and be done by Western Pennsylvania Conservancy staff only, due to covid-19 guidelines.

“Many of the new plantings will replace trees removed by Duquesne Light in 2018,” said Elizabeth Brown, a member of the borough’s shade tree commission.

“New street trees will be more appropriate sizes for their location under electric wires.”

Founded in 2009, the shade tree commission manages trees in the borough’s right of way.

The group meets at 6:30 p.m. the third Wednesday of each month at the municipal building. The public is welcome.

Residents interested in volunteering can email aspinwallshadetree@gmail.com.

TreeVitalize, a joint project of Allegheny County Parks, the City of Pittsburgh, Tree Pittsburgh and the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, has planted more than 37,000 trees since 2008 across the Pittsburgh region.

Its partnership with the borough has brought a total of 150 new trees to the neighborhood.

Brown said the TreeVitalize grants come with the expertise of an arborist who approves the sites and selects the appropriate tree species.

“They also provide supplies and assist with coordinating the planting,” Brown said. “This year they are also doing all the planting.”

Requests for new trees, trimming or removals should be submitted through the borough website at aspinwallpa.com.