Holyoke to establish municipal forestry crew for tree management

The city of Holyoke is launching an initiative to strengthen its urban forestry and tree management capabilities. Mayor Joshua Garcia has proposed the creation of a dedicated municipal forestry crew to address issues such as vacant tree pits, stumps, and hazardous trees throughout local neighborhoods.

The proposed four-person team will include a city forester, two tree climbers, and a maintenance laborer. By building internal capacity, the city aims to reduce its reliance on outside contractors, creating a more cost-effective model and gaining greater control over forestry needs. The plan includes an updated tree inventory and risk assessment system to prioritize maintenance, pruning, and new plantings.

Recruitment is already underway, with Nathaniel Morrell joining as the new city forester. Morrell brings over a decade of experience in arboriculture and urban forestry to the role.