At the last Board of Selectmen meeting Beth Evans, Greenwich’s Director of Environmental Affairs, shared the good news she received that a CT Dept of Energy and Environmental Protection “Trees For Communities” grant program came through to the tune of $49,536.
Evans said the idea of the grant is to provide trees for both town property as well as private property in Byram to increase the urban tree canopy and help with health and environmental issues.
Evans said a requirement twas to have an authorizing resolution from the Board of Selectmen, and from there to work with the BET on a contract.
Evans said First Selectman Fred Camillo had been the authorizing signature on the application and would be the authorizing signatory on any future documents.
“This is a welcome development and I’m sure you already have some spots picked out in Byram,” Camillo said.
Evans said residents were eager to participate and the program would include public outreach and education.
She said her department would work with Parks & Recreation for installing the trees at the appropriate time of year.
“It is a win win. We were among 32 applicants for this,” Evan said, adding that 32 applicants together requested over $4 million in grants.
“DEEP only had $950,000 and we were fully funded,” she said.
The board waived their typical second read when Evans explained there was a Nov 30 due date to return documents to DEEP. The Selectmen voted unanimously to approve the request to authorize the resolution for a grant from the Connecticut DEEP for the “Byram Branches project.”
After the vote, Liz Eckert, Chairperson of the Byram Neighborhood Association, said, “We are excited to participate in this meaningful grant opportunity. The BNA is inviting residents to express interest in receiving a tree for their property and to share suggestions for public locations in Byram that would benefit from new plantings.”
See also:
Four Parcels at Key Byram Intersection Sell for Total of $9Million
Up to the Minute Greenwich Property Transfers, October 28-31, 2025