EUGE Project

What is it?

The EUGE Project aims to deliver high-quality outreach, education, resources, and implementation tools informed by the community for use in future environmental improvement projects in the city of Elmira. EUGE is funded through the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Services as a Hazard Mitigation Planning project.

Reunion 2022: Alumni observe a quiet moment at the tent parties (Image by Noël Heaney).

Who is involved?

Anyone in the community who would like to provide input! Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Chemung County was awarded this 3-year planning grant in 2023 and organizes the planning efforts in Elmira. EUGE aims to serve neighborhoods in Elmira to support natural resource access goals. Please see our events calendar for EUGE-related community events, as well as other CCE program events.

Colah B. Tawkin, curator and storyteller, leads a tree planting session at the Ithaca Children’s Garden (Image by Sreang "C" Hok).

Why is it important?

Improving green spaces is essential to communities like Elmira. Lack of high-quality green space can impact neighborhoods, including:

• Pavement and lack of shade increase temperatures, resulting in urban heat islands, which may increase medical emergencies related to heat
• Localized flooding and/or ponding occur when there is inadequate soil and plant material to absorb runoff rainwater, which may lead to erosion and weakening of roadway and stormwater infrastructure.
• Air quality decreases when fewer trees and plants filter pollutants, potentially leading to higher rates of respiratory diseases, such as asthma.

The restoration and implementation of green spaces would yield the greatest regional benefits by mitigating these climate threats, such as flooding, extreme heat, and pollution.

Trees provide a variety of benefits (Image by Rachel Jones via Canva.com).

National Tree Benefit Calculator

Interested in understanding more about the value of trees? This Tree Benefit Calculator allows you to make an estimation of the benefits of individual trees and overall canopy benefits in your community and within the continental US.

Greening projects to increase tree canopy and vegetative cover focused on underserved neighborhoods drastically improve the financial, social, emotional, mental, and physical well-being of residents, and positively impacts the environmental health and security of the greater region. Benefits provided by urban tree cover include:

• Air, water, and soil pollutant filtration
• Indoor and ecological temperature control
• Improved stormwater drainage and soil retention
• A healthy environment to support wildlife and diverse food systems
• Beautification of neighborhoods, increasing recreation, and well-being
• Community connection and safety
• Higher functioning infrastructure
• Economic benefits to homeowners and businesses

How can I get involved?

Community stakeholder input is essential to the process of determining safe, effective, and efficient procedures to implement green infrastructure and maintain green spaces. From this, community educator resources will be developed that will support residents, homeowners, businesses, nonprofits, community groups, and municipalities in replicating those procedures and identifying priority sites for future implementation projects. Through the development of meaningful partnerships and community connections, EUGE will facilitate the delivery of environmental and aesthetic benefits that will improve overall well-being within Elmira and the county. 

Community programs to get involved may include:

• Neighborhood tree walks
• Expert panels and lectures
• Tabling and activities at community events
• Tree planting demonstrations
• Resident tree sales or drives
• Citizen science projects
• Block club tree committees
• Public meetings
• Targeted outreach
• And more!

Attend one of our community events listed on our events page, or contact Program Coordinator, Simone White, at 607-734-4453 ext. 215 or email slw257@cornell.edu to get involved.

Are you interested in learning more the health of trees on your property?

Check out Chemung County's Tree Mitigation Program page for more information and links to videos about tree health, how to plant a tree, root health, decay, and more!

Last updated April 18, 2025