Lafayette looks to go greener

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - It's Earth Day and efforts are underway to make Lafayette greener.

The Lafayette Tree Fund will plant 147 trees this year bringing the total number to one thousand.  The program was started in 1993 and changed it's name today to Tree Lafayette.

"We're hoping that it inspires the community so that everyone plants trees," President Larry Rose said.  "We want to tree Lafayette and that was the whole purpose of the change."

The ultimate goal of Tree Lafayette is to have one tree every 40 feet.

Mayor Tony Roswarski and Rose say trees offer many more benefits than just city beautification.

"Whenever businesses come to a community there are several things that they look at, your labor force, price of land, different things like that," Mayor Roswarski said.  "But then they begin to look at quality of life issues. Do you have nice parks? Do you have trails? Do you have tree lined streets?"

"Neighborhoods that plant trees their crime rate goes down," Rose said.  "People who plant trees, they like to watch them grow, therefore they don't move and it stabilizes neighborhoods."

Tree Lafayette presented WLFI with certificate in recognition of our website and promotion, Living Green with 18 .

Tree Lafayette will be planting the 147 trees at Twyckenham Boulevard on May 9th.  The program is looking for volunteers.  If you're interested in volunteering you can sign up at their website, www.treelafayette.org .