TIMBER! A city worker trims a tree in this file photo.

A nearly $500,000 urban forestry grant from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will help green up Eau Claire.

The grant, announced in September, is designed for “greening urban spaces in disadvantaged Eau Claire neighborhoods,” Eau Claire City Manager Stephanie Hirsch said. The city will receive $486,000, the fourth largest grant issued by the DNR from the $4 million available.

In addition to funding the planting of new trees in town, the grant will help offset the cost of removing diseased trees from private property – a big cost that typically must be paid by property owners, not the city. The grant application was pursued by the Northside Hill Neighborhood Association with help from two members of the City Council, Jessica Schoen and Andrew Werthmann.

Hirsch said the details of how the grant will be administered are still being determined.

“Wisconsin’s forests are a critical resource for our state, promoting clean air, preserving natural habitats, and bolstering our statewide economy,” Gov. Tony Evers said in a media release. “Thanks to our local and federal partners, these investments help build a stronger, more resilient forestry industry, and will protect our environment and grow our economy for generations to come.”

Among other things, urban forests can improve air quality, boost property values, limit stormwater runoff and erosion, and even reduce energy use by providing shade, the DNR says.

Earlier this year, Evers signed an executive order increasing the state’s tree planting pledge from 75 million to 100 million trees by 2030.