UTICA — Newly-planted trees are spreading their roots across Utica as the city looks to go green.

The Urban Tree Planting project, a collaborative cooperative program with The Rotary Club of Utica, Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency, the Unitarian Universalist Church’s Climate Action Team and the City of Utica Parks Department, was implemented to plant trees around Utica in order to enhance property value and improve air quality.

Back in November, the Rotary Club of Utica, along with the New Hartford Rotary, the Rome Rotary Club, Proctor High school and Utica University, came together and planted 26 trees across the city.

In total, 42 trees have been planted over the last two years.

“As we move forward, you’re gonna see more and more planting of trees throughout our city,” Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri said.

The Urban Tree Planting project was made possible by funding from a Rotary Grant and the Rotary Club of Utica’s Tees for Trees event, where funds were raised for the project back in August during their golf tournament.

“It’s a great partnership and the city can’t do it alone and the fact that we have the partnerships with the Rotary and Unitarian and everyone else, it makes a huge difference,” Palmieri added. “Everyone puts their heart and soul into it and it makes our city a giving, loving city.”

Several varieties of trees were planted, including white birch, hybrid maple blaze, several pear varieties, northern red oak, Japanese lilac, flowering cherry and pink spires crabapple, according to Rotary Club officials.