Somerville Gets Some Oxygen

After years of suffering from some of the worst air quality in the region, as well as the highest rates of asthma around, Somerville residents can now breathe just a bit easier. According to the Somerville News, the City of Somerville was one of just four municipalities accross the state that received a $20,000 state grant called the Targeted Inner City Planning and Education Grant. This fund is targeted to help cities protect their current stock of trees and grow new ones in the form of "community forest networks" supported by "Eco Clubs" and "school-based curriculum."

While Bostonist is not entirely sure what that latter part means and how they'll grow forests in the middle of the most densly populated community in New England. Nonetheless, encouraging green development in urban landscapes is always good and we applaud this effort -- especially given the fact that Bostonist is often known to ride it's bike through the highly-polluted intersection of Broadway and McGrath Highway in East Somerville.