Concord250 Trees Project
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution, Concord is planting 250 trees. This living monument celebrates Concord’s revolutionary past, as well as its aspirations for the future. The town’s history reveals a community that has always looked forward and led with courage and vision. The planting of 250 trees is a demonstration of its commitment to a more sustainable and resilient future and is a gift to future generations of Concordians to appreciate and enjoy.
Middlesex School is making a $50,000 gift to the tree project, and we are challenging other local institutions and individuals to help us match the gift. We must raise as much as possible in November. Please consider a gift that will keep giving to generations of future Concordians and our valued visitors!
All gifts should be accompanied by a memo or letter clearly indicating that the gift is intended for the Commemorative Tree Fund or 250 Trees for the 250th.
Project Description
As we consider appropriate ways of commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Concord and Lexington, we have an opportunity to pause and look not only back, but forward: what do we want Concord to be 250 years from now? We are at an ecological inflection point, locally and globally, as we seek ways to mitigate and adapt to the climate crisis. What better way to mark the 250th than with a living monument, the planting of 250 trees?
Trees are a critical part of Concord’s natural ecosystem, scenic beauty, cultural heritage, and economic sustainability. Concord Public Works (CPW) currently plants 80-100 trees per year, and the 250 trees initiative seeks to augment that number beginning in FY ‘25, as well as to begin immediately to highlight the importance of Concord’s tree canopy and build support for more sustained funding for tree planting and maintenance into the future. Species planted will be native to the region and consistent with species identified in CPW’s tree planting guide. Most importantly, a 250 trees initiative supports the Town’s sustainability goals and recommendations of the 2017 Concord Tree Management Plan in an era of rapid climate change.
Process
Citizen volunteers will work with the Permanent Memorials Subcommittee to identify potential planting sites, including locations within the public right of way, and on Town-owned and private properties where appropriate.
Concord Public Works put the project out to bid in November 2024, and a contract was awarded in early 2025. The selected contractor will vet sites and procure trees over the winter, and begin planting in April 2025. While the vast maority of the trees will be planted by the contractor, Concord Public Works got a jumpstart on the project by installing a dozen trees in the fall of 2024.
Tree locations are captured on a data layer created by the Town's GIS Department, which will be finalized once tree planting is complete in the fall of 2025.
Budget
An original estimate projected a cost of approximately $1591 per 21/2" to 3 1/2" caliper tree to be procured, installed, monitored, and watered for two years by a contractor, which would have resulted in an overall project budget of $400,000. However, the winning bid came in closer to $1,000 per tree. Funding for the project includes $125,000 from the Community Preservation Fund, $125,000 from ARPA funds, and close to $80,000 from individuals, local groups, and private schools, including a $50,000 gift from the Middlesex School. Excess funds will be used for commemorative plaques or sings and archive materials, and to ensure that the plants will stay well watered beyond the first two years required of the contractor.
Concord250 Tree Project Mission Statement