Urban Forestry Program, Ohio Department of Natural Resources Grant Award & Administration
Village of Hanover • Licking County, Ohio
The Village of Hanover, located in Licking County just east of Newark in Central Ohio, is experiencing rapid growth driven by several catalyst economic development projects, including the new Intel campus just 20 miles away. To proactively manage this growth and plan for a sustainable future, the Village engaged Neighborhood Strategies to pursue funding and support the development of its first Urban Forestry Program.
Awarded $99,120 from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, the grant will support Hanover in establishing a comprehensive, scalable framework that includes an urban forest management plan, tree inventory, operations review, planting design, and technical specifications. The project also includes personnel training, hazardous tree mitigation, and tree planting and maintenance. Neighborhood Strategies is supporting both the administration and implementation of the grant, ensuring compliance, coordination, and successful delivery.
Once established, Hanover will have a safer and healthier tree canopy, improved stormwater management, greater canopy coverage, enhanced environmental quality, and strengthened community capacity. This work positions Hanover to grow responsibly while improving residents’ quality of life.
2025 - Present
SERVICES
Community Planning
Grant Writing
Grant Administration
Government Relations
Key Accomplishment
Neighborhood Strategies secured 99K+ in grant funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Forestry to develop the Village of Hanover’s first Urban Forestry Program.
| Newly Planted Trees Expand Tree Canopy Throughout the Village
Hanover’s Urban Forestry Program will strategically expand Hanover’s tree canopy through the planting of new trees in priority locations, including parks, community spaces, and key corridors. Plantings will be designed to maximize shade, reduce heat, improve stormwater management, and enhance overall environmental quality. Each site will be carefully planned using data from a comprehensive tree inventory and planting design to ensure long-term success and species diversity.
| Tree Mitigation Enhances Safety, Aesthetics, & Long-Term Sustainability
The Urban Forestry Program addresses immediate safety concerns by identifying and mitigating hazardous trees throughout the Village. A certified arborist-led risk assessment will evaluate public trees, prioritizing those that pose risks to residents, infrastructure, and key community spaces. High-risk trees will be removed or pruned, particularly along heavily used areas like the High Street corridor, parks, and public gathering spaces. All removals will be paired with intentional replanting, ensuring no net loss of canopy while improving tree health, structure, and long-term sustainability.