New Haven - Urban Resources Initiative

Uri's community greenspace program continues to empower volunteers to make tangible improvements to the landscape of their communities. The three programmatic goals - community building, environmental restoration, and stewardship - have not changed since the program's inception in 1995. In 2023, uri's community greenspace program supported approximately 762 volunteers, which together contributed 3,619 volunteer hours. There were 38 projects which held 222 volunteer events in 15 neighborhoods. They planted 34 trees, 96 shrubs and 531 perennials.

Volunteers have been working with Urban Resources Initiative to improve New Haven's Urban parks and other public lands by planting trees and removing invasive vegitation. In 2023, uri held 90 volunteer events to remove invasive vines, which pose a significant threat to Urban forests. Vines can harm trees by covering foliage preventing photsynthesis: outcompeting trees for sunlight; pulling down branches; and encirling trunks causing mortality. Given the proliferation of invasive vines, and tree decline, uri has worked to increase public awareness and increase work with volunteers to tackle this problem together.

Uri's greenskills (green job program) provided paid job training to adults and youth, who planted 522 trees on behalf of 392 tree adopters.

Green infrastructire and memorial garden