The City of Toccoa was one of seven recipients of the Georgia’s Growing Green Program. In March, 86 trees were planted in downtown Toccoa as part of the program and will be maintained for the next year. The grant was funded by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act through the Georgia Forestry Commission and Toccoa received $25,787 to plant the trees.
The grant trees were planted along Doyle, Boulevard, and Tugalo Streets. Additional trees were planted at Doyle Street Park. The trees were planted in ways to supplement the dogwoods planted by the Toccoa Woman’s Club 40 years ago. Around 60 of those dogwoods had died, so the funding was used to replace and maintain these heritage dogwoods.
Trees planted include 59 dogwoods, 12 trident maples, 6 red oaks and 9 white oaks. The trees expand Main Street Toccoa’s urban forest to include popular walkways to downtown shopping and restaurants as well as along seating and play areas in Doyle Street Park. The trees make downtown Toccoa more pedestrian friendly.
The primary purpose of the grant is to create jobs as well as enhance the environment in Toccoa. Eberhardt Landscaping of Hartwell, Georgia purchased and planted the 86 trees March 11-16.
