The Battleground is launching a Davey Tree Double IPA and taking on ‘tree equity’ problem

Keeping the community’s celebration of Earth Day going, the Davey Tree Expert Co. and The Battleground restaurant in Kent have teamed up to offer a Davey Tree Double IPA.

The April 26 IPA launch party, set for 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at The Battleground, 425 Cherry St., celebrates Davey Tree’s environmental work and the company’s tree planting activities in Kent’s South End neighborhood.

In addition to words of welcome and appreciation from association Chairperson Doria Daniels, Davey Institute R&D Vice President Dan Herms will review the history of Earth Day and the environmental movement’s evolution.

Herms will also present information about environment equity, including tree equity, which lets communities assess how their tree canopy is distributed. According to the national nonprofit group American Forests’ website, trees are sparse in socioeconomically disadvantaged areas and in neighborhoods of color. Redlining policies dating back to the 1930s helped lay the groundwork for this inequity, American Forests states.

That redlining existed in Kent, where immigrants and people of color were steered to Kent’s South End, now termed the “mother neighborhood” by members of the Historic South End Association.

Herms’ presentation will also cover how people can fund a project to plant even more trees in Kent’s South End. Spoiler alert: it involves buying beer, specifically at The Battleground.

Spurred by a request from Battleground co-owner and “Drink Your Values” founder Kirk Noden, Daniels has gathered a committee that includes Hometown Bank board Chairman Howard Boyle, Kent Health Commissioner Joan Seidel, Kent Environmental Council and Portage Park District member Renee Ruchotzke and a Davey Tree staff assistant.

Taking climate change into account, they plan to draft a proposal to determine what kinds of trees need to be planted where and to pinpoint exact South End areas that need tree canopy. Committee members are also intent on developing elementary school programs to teach youngsters how healthy trees affect human health, and what conditions healthy trees need to thrive, Daniels said.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Davey Tree Expert Co. furnished trees at a community garden in the South End.