Salem’s Northgate Neighborhood could soon have dozens more trees due to a partnership between the city and Friends of Trees.  Northgate residents can sign up to get a tree either online or by mailing a form to the city. Residents are not required to plant the trees themselves as Friends of Trees volunteers will plant them in April.  The annual partnership with Friends of Trees, a nonprofit planting trees around Oregon and Washington, aims to increase the amount of tree canopy in the area.  Since 2021, the Pilot Yard Tree Program has selected a Salem neighborhood with a low amount of tree canopy, or tree cover. The program provides low-cost and free trees to homeowners.  The program is part of the city’s Neighborhood Tree Planting Program, which is supported by an annual $100,000 city contract with Friends of Trees.  Yard trees will cost $35 each, while streetside trees are free. Residents can choose from native, ornamental, deciduous, evergreen and fruit trees. On average, each tree is 6 feet tall.  A full fee waiver is available if needed. To request one, call Friends of Trees’s tree team at 503-595-0212. In a statement, the city said the program is meant to help lower energy bills, increase property value, reduce stress and lower summer temperatures. The program reflects the city’s commitment to improve urban tree canopy in underserved areas around Salem. The commitment was part of a climate plan the city made in 2021.  The plan identified northeast Salem as an area that has been “historically and currently neglected,” and in need of climate and public safety solutions.  For the last three years, the program has picked North Lancaster, along with East Lancaster the last two years.  Last year, 50 trees were planted in North and East Lancaster neighborhoods, city spokeswoman Kathy Ursprung said in an email.  Ursprung said the program’s current goal is to plant 50 trees annually. It’s “trying to build up an area that doesn’t have a lot of trees,” she said.  The program benefits lower-income neighborhoods which tend to have less greenery and experience more environmental issues including noise and air pollution.  Flyers were sent to Northgate residents starting last week with information about the program and how to sign up for a tree. Residents can also sign up online.  Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected]. A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE– If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post Northgate Neighborhood residents can get low-cost or free trees from city program appeared first on Salem Reporter.