Haverhill Mayor James J. Fiorentini announced last week that the Department of Conservation and Recreation planted 462 trees this spring.
The large haul is part of the city’s three-year tree-planting effort, which has resulted in hundreds of trees planted citywide. The plan will be completed this fall, with Fiorentini aiming to have 500 additional trees planted by then.
Trees from this initiative are not the only ones being planted, with city funds allowing for another 150 annually.
Previously, the city had faced controversy over the locations of the trees. In March, Park Street resident and Brightside beautification group volunteer Dave LaBrode told WHAV, “It’s great that the city is planting all these trees, but they’ve got to put the right trees in the right location, and in many instances, that’s not being done.”
At that time, LaBrode implored Fiorentini—whom he said “in many cases decides where trees are going”—to reinstate the Street Tree Advisory Committee formed in 2017. LaBrode was among those appointed to the board, which has never met.