The city and its state partner, Delaware Center for Horticulture, are seeking support from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Showcase Communities Grant Program, a federal program designed to reduce greenhouse gases and foster collaborative partnerships between communities and the federal government.

The program has received $10 million in funding, with funds expected to be available in January 2010.

Rehoboth has proposed to remove a strip of asphalt – 5.5 feet wide and 110 feet long – from the center of the Christian Street parking lot and plant 15 two-inch caliper shade trees. The city has also proposed a new planting bed on the east side of the parking lot.

To make room for the project, the city would remove the existing parking meters, parking bumpers and fencing and install a single, solar-powered, multi-space parking meter. Once the work is done, the city would replace the parking bumpers and maintain the plantings.

The city is asking for $46,000 from the grant to help pay for the $75,000 project. The city would cover the cost of the parking meter, estimated at $15,000. City officials did not budget money this year for the project,

Commissioner Stan Mills said if the city receives the grant, the commissioners would discuss putting the project in next year’s budget.

In a presentation to the city commissioners Friday, Aug. 7, Mills said the project would benefit the senior center by providing a cooler parking lot and would serve as a demonstration for other municipalities. Mills said the project would benefit the city economically.

According to his presentation, studies have shown that shoppers shop longer in business districts with street trees than those without.

“Vehicles parked in the shade of a tree will have an interior temperature 20-30 degrees cooler than a vehicle parked in the sun, which can increase the duration and frequency of consumer visits and their willingness to pay for parking,” the presentation says.

City Manager Greg Ferrese said the grant application is a long shot, but the city has received support from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, as well as Sen. Thomas Carper’s office.

Mills said the city should be notified of grant funding by late September.

He said the center for horticulture has indicated the city had a “medium” chance of getting funds because the project may not be looked at as a priority.

Mills said he remained hopeful the city would receive the grant.