FREDERICKSBURG, Va. - CSX, in partnership with the nonprofit Alliance for Community Trees, has awarded a $22,125 grant to Tree Fredericksburg, the Free Lance Star reports.
The funds will cover the cost of planting and maintaining 120 large evergreen trees along the entire nearly third-of-a-mile stretch of Railroad Avenue in Fredericksburg's Mayfield neighborhood.
The grant is part of CSX's national Trees for Tracks campaign, which promises to plant 21,000 trees (one for every mile of track in the railway's system) in the next five years. They will help create a green barrier along the railroad's tracks.
"CSX is committed to making a positive impact on the communities in which we live and do business," Tori Kaplan, CSX's director of corporate citizenship, said in a statement.
"Not only does planting trees improve air quality and offset carbon emissions, but trees act as noise buffers, improve wildlife habitats and add beauty to our communities.
The local grant will be used to install trees in December and cover the cost of watering them for two years until they are established. Tree Fredericksburg will provide the volunteer labor to water and maintain the trees.
(This item appeared Nov. 20, 2009, in the Free Lance Star.)
