New Hope’s New Forester Aims to Increase Tree Diversity

The City of New Hope has a new protector of its trees.

“Whenever I see a boulevard tree that’s in distress, I tend to pull over and see what I can do about it,” says Sierra McCoy, the city’s new forester that came aboard in June.

“I am a public servant,” says McCoy. “I am available for residents to call me out, take a look at their private trees or public trees for a health inspection, or help kind of consider what species might be good to plant in yards.”

The Iowa State University grad with a degree in forestry has plenty of experience.

She worked for the private sector in tree care.

“That included doing a lot of the physical work felling trees, climbing trees, getting up in buckets, shearing,” says McCoy. 

McCoy also has local government knowledge.

She worked for St. Louis Park as a tree inspector and has learned from watching her father, Robbinsdale City Engineer and Public Works Director, Richard McCoy.

“He stands firm on his belief and his values and how it benefits the city overall,” says McCoy.

Like so many other places, New Hope‘s tree population took a hard hit with Emerald Ash Borer,  something that McCoy aims to address.

McCoy measures around a tree.

“The focus for the future is to rebuild our canopy, make sure it is diverse and resilient to anything that might come in our future,” says McCoy.

McCoy is ready to put on her hard hat and get to work for the people and trees of New Hope.

“Trees have to live with people, people have to live with trees, so if we can do so in collaboration,” says McCoy “It’s the best outcome we can ask for.”

New Hope