Foote-Maple Neighborhood Resilient Street Tree Planting Project

Foote-Maple Neighborhood Properties Eligible to Apply to Receive Free Front Yard Trees (Click on Image to Enlarge)

The Foote-Maple Neighborhood Resilient Tree Planting Project is a Town-community partnership to plant over 100 trees in the front yards of homes and businesses in the area between Foote Street and Maple Avenue in fall of 2025.

This project helps put the Ready & Resilient Barrington plan into action, which aims to build our resilience to the effects of climate change. Over four Saturdays this October, Town volunteers and neighbors will work together to plant native trees in their front yards for free. The tree species have been chosen to survive our changing climate. The trees are paid for by a Municipal Resilience Program Action Grant from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.

Why plant so many street trees in the Foote-Maple neighborhood?

Compared to other neighborhoods, the Foote-Maple neighborhood lacks trees, making it one of the hottest in Barrington during summer.  Due to climate change, by 2080 Rhode Island’s climate could feel like the current climate of Mississippi.  To care for future generations of Barrington residents, it is important that we act today to plant trees that when mature will help bring these temperatures down.

I live in the Foote-Maple neighborhood.  How can I get a free tree?

• Trees are still available!  To get your free front yard tree, email project staff at planting@barrington.ri.gov to express your interest, and be sure to give your street address.
• Once they hear from you, project staff will reach out and determine the best places in your front yard to plant your tree, making sure to stay away from gas, water, sewer, and power lines, as well as any current or future sidewalks.
• If you rent your home, formal permission for tree planting must be granted by the Property Owner, Manager, or their designated representative through their signature.
• On a scheduled Saturday in October, each participant (a homeowner or a tenant) who has signed up to receive a free tree joins with project staff and town volunteers to plant the tree in their front yard.  The tree recipient commits to weeding and watering their tree for the first 2 growing seasons.

I would like a free tree in my front yard but may not be able to plant it.  

No problem!  There is no requirement for you to do the planting.  A few days before the scheduled planting day, a contractor will drop off your tree at your yard and pre-dig a hole for the tree in the designated spot, leaving compost and mulch nearby.  On planting day, project staff and town volunteers with shovels will arrive at your street to plant your tree!

Can I select the tree species we get for our yards?

The Town has ordered a variety of attractive native trees that are known to grow well along streets.  Doing this will make the tree canopy more biodiverse and resilient to disease and pests.  Choosing which tree goes to which address is done carefully, based on what trees are available and what each planting spot is like. You are welcome to indicate your preferences from the list of available trees we have, but we may not be able to promise a particular tree. Our main goal is to select the tree that will grow best in the spot where it's planted and throw down shade that will help cool the neighborhood in future summers.

If do not live in the Foote-Maple neighborhood, can I still help plant trees there?

Absolutely!  We are actively seeking volunteers across Barrington for this planting effort and future ones.  Please email planting@barrington.ri.gov to express your interest in taking part!

How can I find out more?

• Email your questions to planting@barrington.ri.gov.

Neighborhood “Heat Island Effect” caused by low tree canopy cover shown above in orange.   Planting street trees will reduce neighborhood temperatures in the summer.