Davenport faced several challenges in 2019 and 2020, including historic floods, COVID-19, civil unrest, and the derecho of August 10, 2020. One year later, Davenport continues to plant hope, improve the City’s resilience, and look forward to reflecting on these times and promise for the future with the opening of the Time Capsule of Hope in 2036.
While the City experienced significant tree loss due to the derecho, Davenport’s commitment to managing public trees had reforestation underway in the spring of 2021. Following the cleanup that wrapped up in late 2020 with nearly 215,000 cubic yards of collected tree debris being reallocated and reused for other beneficial purposes.
Recovery and reforestation will continue into 2022. Some property owners continue to work on removing damaged private trees, as the City too works on public tree removal and replanting efforts. To date, a little over 500 trees have been planted in street boulevards and parks. The City is hopeful to plant another 150 trees if drought-like conditions improve this fall. Thanks to a grant and volunteers from Greenway Habitat, the City was also able to connect nearly 40 property owners impacted by the derecho with a new private tree.