January 2011

Dear El Quito Neighbor,

The El Quito Neighborhood Association and the City of Saratoga are please to announce an innovative program to reinvigorate our neighborhood and benefit our community. Through a special Lighting and Landscaping Fund exclusive to the El Quito community, the Association and the City of Saratoga are able to offer up to two FREE, 15-gallon street trees for every homeowner in our district*. These funds are available only to the El Quito neighborhood and, unlike other similar L&L districts in Saratoga, come at no additional tax assessment to you.

Trees can improve the quality of our lives for decades to come.

Healthy urban trees are integral to the ecological, economic and social well-being of our communities. From cleaning our air and water to saving energy through cooling shade, from raising property values to rekindling neighborhood pride, from providing a pleasant view to providing homes and food for our wildlife, our community trees have a lot to offer.

A collaborative effort to improve our neighborhood

• The City of Saratoga- staff and council members support the greening of our neighborhoods as part of the City’s goal to plant 2015 trees within the city limits by the year 2015. Kate Bear, the City of Saratoga’s arborist, has also helped us select trees that will thrive in our neighborhood for years to come.
• Our City Forest- a tree planting non-profit group that cultivates a greener, healthier community by mobilizing Silicon Valley businesses, schools and neighborhoods. To date, the organization has planted over 50,000 trees at schools, parks and cities in Santa Clara County.
• The Heritage Tree Society of Saratoga- another non-profit group dedicated to protecting, preserving and recognizing significant trees in Saratoga. 
Up to two 15-gallon shade/street trees will be offered to each household for planting. The El Quito Neighborhood Association in collaboration with Our City Forest will help you select a tree that is appropriate to your front yard, plant the tree, and help you maintain its health over the next three years. Your participation in this offer is completely optional. Renter should coordinate requests with their property owners.

To learn more about this program please join us at an informational meeting:

Westhope Church