From press and staff reports
The City of Kosciusko has been selected as one of six cities statewide to receive a Trees for Restoration, Ecology, Economy, and Society in Mississippi (TREES MS) assistance grant, a program aimed at strengthening and expanding urban tree canopies.
City officials announced that a public open house will be held Tuesday, Feb. 10, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Jason Niles Park Community Center, 501 Knox Road. A short presentation is scheduled for 5:30 p.m., but residents are encouraged to drop in at any time during the event. Admission is free.
Kosciusko’s Tree Canopy Advisory Committee has been working on setting long-term tree canopy goals and identifying strategies to achieve them. The open house is intended to educate the public on the importance of an urban tree canopy and to gather community feedback on where trees should be planted and how future planning efforts should be prioritized.
Attendees will be able to view community tree maps, provide input on planting locations and planning strategies, and learn more about upcoming TREES MS events. Light refreshments will be served, and participants will have a chance to win a free tree.
The TREES MS Assistance Program is delivered by the nonprofit Green Infrastructure Center Inc. in collaboration with the City of Kosciusko. Funding is provided by the Inflation Reduction Act through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service via an Urban and Community Forestry grant administered by the Mississippi Forestry Commission.
City officials said community participation will play a key role in shaping how Kosciusko grows a healthier, more resilient urban forest for future generations.
