Cedar Hill Resident sent in this write-up and these photos about a tree-planting with roots deep in the past — and a promise of a neighborhood blossoming.
In 1989 William Burch worked with Baltimore Parks to start a program that was based on similar works he was doing in Nepal at the time. Yale students would go to Baltimore and run a program that planted gardens and trees as a way to uniting community’s to work for higher goals. He brought the program to New Haven in 1991. The Urban Resources Initiative has been going strong ever since. The program has restored and reclaimed many blighted lots and corners of the city of New Haven. The Greenspace
program is just one of many successful programs that are ran by the URI.
Last night Cedar Hill had the true honor of being the site of a tree dedication to this inspirational man! A River Birch was planted at the new Cedar Hill basketball court located at the foot of East Rock near Rice Field.
As a member of the Cedar Hill Greenspace program I can without a doubt say that this program was a turning point for our area. An area where people were not coming out side and getting to know there neighbors. But there is something about planting a tree that brings people together. And this man made it possible for 100’s of New Haveners to be part of this special and unique program. And for that reason he was honor with this ceremony that brought interns, community members and many that have worked with Professor Burch to make URI what it is today!
Thank you Prof. Burch for making a difference and changing our small part of the world a better one!