MKNA All Neighborhood Meeting • Thursday, May 19
Annual Meridian~Kessler Neighborhood Association — All Neighborhood Meeting
Thursday, May 19 at 6:00pm
Basile Opera Center, 4011 North Pennsylvania Street
Refreshments and pizza from BeBop Pizza Kitchen will be served at 6pm and the meeting commences at 6:30pm.
The agenda features a panel discussion on protecting and restoring the urban forest of Meridian-Kessler. Panelists include Department of Public Works, the Department of Natural Resources, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and the Indiana Urban Forest Council. (see more info below)
Additional items on the agenda
During the meeting, the election of the new MKNA Board of Directors for 2016-2017 will take place.
What Would Meridian Kessler look Like with no trees?
This special meeting will be focused on improving the urban forest in Meridian-Kessler. Meridian-Kessler has been known for its beautiful older homes and the mature trees that grace the neighborhood. Recent drought conditions and the epidemic of the Emerald Ash Borer have taken a noticeable toll on the trees. Some of our mature trees have lost limbs in storms, and others are being removed as they become hazardous, noticeably the ash trees.
In response, MKNA is dedicating its spring All Neighborhood Meeting to discussing what we can do as a neighborhood and as individuals to care for, protect and replace the trees that characterize our neighborhood. Representatives of the Department of Public Works, the Department of Natural Resources, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful and the Indiana Urban Forest Council, among others, will speak on the following topics:
- Protecting the trees through proper watering, pruning, and mulching
- Planting techniques for new trees on both private and public property
- Selecting the right tree for the space available
- Selecting shade trees that thrive in the urban environment
- Choosing a good specimen at the nursery
- Understanding the value of trees for our health and economic benefit.
- Helping the ecosystem of the urban forest to thrive
- Bringing KIB Projects to your block
- Getting help from Neighborhood Tree Pruning Project, a group of certified tree stewards who volunteer to help solve some problems with city-owned trees
A variety of tree seedlings will be available for a suggested donation of $5 so that you can start planting new trees in the neighborhood right away! Tables will be available for projects and activities for children sponsored by Jeff Harris of the Arbor Rangers.
Also, MKNA is excited to sponsor a local DNR tree steward training on July 9th and 16th at the Center for Inquiry at School 84. If you would like to become a tree steward for your zone, MKNA will cover the $30 enrollment fee for residents who wish to take part in the two-day training. The Tree Steward program teaches tree care, understanding soil types, tree growth patterns, recognizing tree problems, planting, and pruning. Our goal is to have at least one tree steward in each of the eight MKNA zones to help neighbors solve tree issues and coordinate resources.
MKNA has also recently formed a Tree Committee that will assure that tree care is a part of our neighborhood’s activities. There will be many volunteer opportunities to help the MKNA Tree Committee. You might volunteer to:
- Become a Tree Steward for your zone
- Help map and mark significant trees in the neighborhood and develop tree walks
- Nominate your favorite tree in a photo contest
- Work with neighborhood schools to help with educational programming
- Help write grants for pocket parks and tree planting projects
- Be a guest writer of tree care articles for MK Spark Magazine
- Work with KIB to plan neighborhood tree plantings in 2017
Please come and bring your questions, concerns, suggestions and take home information about how you can contribute to making our urban forest strong. Trees are a universal element that makes our neighborhoods beautiful, providing cooling shade in the summer, lowering air conditioning bills, raising property values and making our streets pleasant and welcoming.
If you are unable to attend this meeting on May 19 but would like to volunteer serve on the tree committee and its projects, please contact Mary Blackburn at 926-9226. If you are interested in becoming a Tree Steward for MKNA or volunteering with the Neighborhood Tree Pruning Project, please contact Elizabeth Jarvis at neighborhoodtrees@earthlink.net or call 283-3028.
