82 New Trees Being Added to "Tree City USA"

82 NEW TREES BEING ADDED TO “TREE CITY USA”

Did you know New Albany has been designated TREE CITY USA by the Arbor Day Foundation?

New Albany continues to invest in its tree canopy, currently hosting over 7,777 “tree sites” in its inventory. In early 2017, the City of New Albany received $20,000 through the Community and Urban Forestry Assistance Grant, one of ten municipalities that received the grant throughout the entire northeast region of the Department of Natural Resources. Through this grant, the city was able to complete an inventory of all city-owned trees in the public rights-of-way and city parks. The inventory was then utilized to draft a management plan that provides details on how to improve and maintain the urban tree canopy.

As part of that management plan, new tree sites are added each year to help grow and improve the urban tree canopy. In August of this year, 82 new tree locations will be added along Lilly Lane, Millerwood Drive, and Lynnwood Drive. Crews have begun plantings this week and will continue throughout the month of August.

NEW ALBANY TREE TRAIL PROJECT

New Albany recently opened the TREE TRAIL PROJECT, a self-guided trail to raise awareness and appreciation for New Albany’s growing urban tree canopy. There are currently 58 distinct tree species on the trail, with identification markers placed on the sidewalk near trees on the trail. To learn more about the Tree Trail Project, please visit https://cityofnewalbany.com/tree-trail-project/

Update: Community Crossings Matching Grant Projects

Earlier this year, the State of Indiana approved a list of streets to be paved and funded through Community Crossing Matching Grant Fund. This work has begun and will continue throughout the rest of the year. Please check the Board of Works and other posts for regular updates.

“These investments will keep our city moving forward,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “We appreciate the state’s assistance with these important road improvements, and we will continue to focus on making our roads the best in Indiana.”

NEW MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE LAUNCHES SATURDAY:

NEW MENTAL HEALTH HOTLINE LAUNCHES SATURDAY:

Thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan, Indiana is now launching a “Indiana 988” hotline for mental health services.

“This is a great consolidation of local, state, and federal resources to improve mental health services right here in our River City,” stated Mayor Jeff Gahan. “It is no secret that some of the homelessness and addiction concerns we face here in New Albany are rooted in mental health issues, and this is a good step in improving services for those who need it. I want to thank the State of Indiana and the American Rescue Plan for helping address the mental health needs of our community.”

On Saturday, 988 will go live in Indiana and around the United States as a new national three-digit dialing code to reach the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. In Indiana, Hoosiers experiencing mental health-related distress may call 988 to connect to a trained crisis specialist. Soon, that service will be expanded to include a response team and locations where people can go for help.

Indiana has also entered into a partnership to provide mental health services at pediatric primary care offices around the state, removing barriers to access. Through this partnership, mental health services will be embedded within primary pediatric care settings around the state of Indiana, directly addressing the growing child mental health crisis.

“One serious, lingering result of the COVID-19 pandemic that has been widely-recognized by experts all over the country is a worsening of our mental health crisis,” said Dan Rusyniak, M.D., FSSA secretary. “This major infusion of funds, spread throughout Indiana, will provide more access to mental health care, expand the mental health workforce, and invest in our state’s mental health infrastructure.”

More information about Indiana 988 can be found here: https://www.in.gov/fssa/dmha/update-on-988-in-indiana/

Summer Paving and Concrete Operations

SUMMER PAVING AND CONCRETE OPERATIONS:

The City of New Albany’s annual Street Improvement and Paving program will get into full gear this month. Crews will be mobilizing and shifting to full-time paving operations beginning later this month. Residents and business owners in affected paving areas will be notified by letter of upcoming work.

Concrete work is currently ongoing in the Pamela Drive neighborhood near the newly constructed bridge. Crews have begun saw cuts in driveways and have begun curb replacements throughout the neighborhood.

Main Street will also receive some patching work beginning next week as Indiana American Water crews continue to replace old water lines along the roadway.

Panera, Chipotle, Other Services Coming to State Street:

Panera, Chipotle, Other Services Coming to State Street:

Construction will begin soon on a new traffic signal on State Street near the Kroger Superstore. While construction is ongoing, crews will be working to keep one lane in each direction open at all times. Most of the construction is limited to daytime hours, but some paving construction will occur during night hours to keep inconveniences limited.

The new signal is being added to accommodate new business investments along State Street, including a Panera Bread, a Chipotle Mexican Grill, and another service provider.

Please be aware of ongoing construction and crews working in the roadway. Thank you for your patience and understanding while we complete this important infrastructure project.