Downtown Squamish will be getting a green facelift thanks to a recently announced $15,000 grant.
The funds for approximately 40 red maple trees lining Cleveland Avenue comes courtesy of Tree Canada and the TD Friends of the Environment Foundation's green streets program.
Local commercial property consultant John Jervis submitted the grant application in partnership with the Downtown Squamish Business Improvement Association (DSBIA) and in collaboration with the Squamish Chamber of Commerce, the Squamish Arts Council and the Squamish Environment Society.
He said he felt the community could help green up the core.
"There's a lot of little cosmetic things that we could do ourselves," he said.
"I thought you know it could be years before we get something done down there, why don't we actually set forth on some small tangible things that could actually make a difference now rather than looking at something from five years out?
"Let's embrace the downtown and make it an environment we can all be proud of and enjoy going to."
Foundation executive director Mary Desjardins said more than 110 municipalities requested funding and Squamish was just one of 20 communities who secured the grant.
"It was a difficult decision to pick the different winners," she said.
Squamish won because they selected a native species of trees for the beautification and due to the high priority on community involvement, she said.
Jervis also plans to organize volunteer-led downtown improvement days with painting, pressure washing and general maintenance work scheduled to take place.
"We should have a downtown that states what our beliefs are and I think greening is a big part of what we are as a community," he said.
The program has provided grants to more than 300 communities since its inception in 1994 but Desjardins said the program is more than just about planning beautiful trees.
"It's not just looking at the aesthetic value of the trees because they do bring a lot more to communities. It's really about improving the environment, it's improving air quality, improving soil quality. Trees can often act as a noise buffer, they can provide shade and there's the good psychological aspects with beautifying an area."
Desjardins said the ethos behind Squamish's project corresponded to the program's goals.
"When the [DSBIA] was looking to re-establish the greenscape of the heart of their downtown area, it fit perfectly with our goal of trying to improve the environment and bring trees to local communities."
Although he's trilled about receiving the grants, Jervis said he isn't sure when the red maples will actually start appearing on four blocks of curb space starting at Cleveland Avenue and Winnipeg Street because the District of Squamish has to co-ordinate the planting.
"I think the greatest thing about winning this is actually providing a catalyst for hopefully for the District to move a little more quickly in getting this along and it's a good news story for the downtown which we really need," he said.
"It's fantastic."
In a released statement, DSBIA president Eric Armour said the project would benefit many people as well as the environment.
"Planting trees in the core of our town will be a wonderful benefit for our citizens and visitors, and is an important part of our commitment as a community toward environmental sustainability."
Surrey, West Kelowna and the Snuneymuxq First Nation near Nanaimo were the only additional British Columbia communities to receive funding from the green streets program.
For more information on the grants of to apply for the 2011 program visit tdgreenstreets.ca.
