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NeighborWoods: A Partnership <br /> In 1992, the City of Eugene Public Works Department developed a program <br /> called "NeighborWoods." NeighborWoods is a partnership between neighbors, <br /> businesses, and local government to plant and maintain street trees that <br /> enhance the environment and the unique identity of each neighborhood. <br /> The program is modeled after tree projects in other cities. The basic premise <br /> of the program is that each neighborhood has a unique identity and that the <br /> residents of those neighborhoods have the best idea of what that identify is <br /> and of how they want their neighborhood to look. Street trees are a critical <br /> part of this identity. <br /> Other communities have found that neighborhood volunteers are the crucial <br /> ingredient to the program's success. The City also is using volunteers to <br /> plant and care for the trees. <br /> The program has several phases: Volunteers leaders are recruited and <br /> trained, trees are selected and planted in street rights -of -way, and minor <br /> maintenance is provided during the first year to ensure the trees survive. <br /> The City trains each volunteer leader and provides written materials about <br /> how to organize his /her neighborhood, how to select appropriate planting <br /> sites, and how to plant and care for the new trees. Once trained, the <br /> volunteer leader selects and trains other volunteers and oversees their work. <br /> The City supplies the trees and the hand tools, tree stakes, and mulch at the <br /> time of planting. <br /> If a coordinator wants to continue in the program, the City provides <br /> additional training in long -term tree maintenance. The training includes how <br /> to identify and care for tree problems, how to prune for good form and <br /> health, and how to undertake a neighborhood tree inventory. <br />