Archived News Release: February 3, 2016 - The City of Ann Arbor is seeking candidates to fill vacancies on the Elizabeth Dean Fund Committee. The Dean Fund Committee is responsible for reviewing public tree planting and maintenance projects and making recommendations to Ann Arbor City Council on allocation of Elizabeth R. Dean funds.
City of Ann Arbor residents interested in serving on the Elizabeth Dean Fund Committee should complete a boards and commission application available at a2gov.org/departments/city-clerk/Pages/Boards-and-Commissions.aspx or by contacting the mayor's office at 734.794.6161. The Elizabeth Dean Fund meets monthly and committee members serve two-year terms.
On April 7, 1964, Elizabeth Russell Dean, a life-long Ann Arbor resident, bequeathed nearly $2 million for the planting, care and maintenance of public trees within the city of Ann Arbor. Dean was the daughter of Sedgwick and Elizabeth Strong Dean, both of whom were from pioneer families of Ann Arbor. Her father was a successful merchant and owned a grocery store on South Main Street.
The first project supported by the Elizabeth Dean Fund Trust was the planting of trees in the planters on Main Street between Huron and William Streets, now known as the Dean Promenade. Since 1964, the Elizabeth Dean Fund has provided funds to plant over 5,400 trees as well as care for and maintains thousands of trees throughout the city.
For more information about the Elizabeth Dean Fund and to find out how to submit a neighborhood-level tree planting or maintenance project for funding consideration, please visit a2gov.org/urbanforestry.
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