The North End desperately needs trees
To the Editor,
We are residents of the North End. The North End desperately needs trees. North End needs literally 1,000 trees. Yes, 1,000 trees. Excellent times to plant trees: Fall and Spring.
For nearly four years I have called 311, written to multiple City Council Members including (but not limited to) Councilwoman Zapata (who told me NE air quality is second wort in Boston after East Boston. The reason is simple she said and I agreed: Not enough trees!).
I have repeatedly requested tree pits and trees by email, letter, phone, or simply replacing trees in existing pits. I have written and phoned every single agency involved in tree planting in Boston: Boston Tree Alliance; Boston Parks and Rec Urban Forestry Division; Office of Climate Resistance; 617-635-TREE; Office of Green Infrastructure, and of course, rang 311 every 4-5 months. I tried every public & private agencies involved in tree removal, plating, replacements. I have reached out via letters; forms; telephone to agencies that are a combination of public and private funding, involved with purchasing, delivering, planting Boston tree pits and platings. I have given specific addresses where pits exist (Example 213 Hanover in front of the Post Office) and requested the work order number and a copy of the date submitted. I have only gotten that twice (and not for Hanover). I have visited City Hall in person, twice. I have offered to fund-raise. I’ve offered manual labor, to volunteer my time. I offered to organize a neighborhood-wide planting day.
All of these efforts, over nearly 4 years, seem to have resulted in 3 trees across from the ice rink. (Although I am not convinced my appeals were what got those 3 trees into the ground. I think they were requested 5 years ago.)
I am writing this Letter to the Editor in the hope that this coming Fall, which just began and doesn’t end until December 21, 2026 (lots o time for planting!) to plant trees in existing pits and/or create pits and plant trees on the following NE streets: Atlantic; Battery; Bennett; Charter; Clark; Clinton; Congress; Cooper; Cross; Commercial; Endicott; Fleet; Hanover; North, North, North; Tielston; Unity; Hull; Shaefer; Margaret (!); Margin; Prince; Salem; Snow Hill; Merchantile; Sudbury; Richmond (desperate); Washington. Revere Park’s trees need attention. Every park could use additional trees including Atlantic across from the rink.
Please add any streets or park areas omitted. The entire North End needs trees, for climate reasons, but also to spruce us up! Make our gracious, beautiful neighborhood even prettier than it already is.
We are so lucky to live in this gorgeous neighborhood with kind, and sometimes witty, neighbors. All neighborhoods need attention. North End is no exception. Thee best neighborhood in Boston (North End) deserves beautifying which will also cool us down in summers that last 5-6 months now.
Thank you very much.
Brenda Maglich