DNR receives funds for tree planting

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - The warm weather arrived earlier this year, but some of the heat might be a little easier to bear thanks to some incoming funds from the Department of Natural Resources.

West Lafayette was one of fifteen cities awarded money from the DNR's Community and Urban Forestry program to plant trees.

The city will use the $5,000 to replace 300 dying ash trees in the University Farm subdivision.

West Lafayette Park officials said trees are vital to a community's environment.

“A single tree can actually absorb 400 gallons of water and slowly release it into the atmosphere in one day. So what that's doing is it's decreasing the amount of runoff that we have, which is also decreasing the amount of chemicals going into our streams and our river,” said Dan Dunten, Stewardship Manager of West Lafayette Parks & Rec.

Dan Dunten said planting trees in the city will also help absorb hot, summer heat and cool the air.