It’s official: Oyster Bay is a town of tree huggers. For the 25th year in a row, the town has been designated a “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation, a national program that provides the framework for community forestry management for cities and towns across America.
“This designation, given to communities which have developed and implemented comprehensive tree planting and preservation programs, is a national recognition that is very gratifying to the Town Board, as we have made the care of our community tree resources a top priority,” says Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor John Venditto.
One of the four core standards for achieving the status is celebrating Arbor Day, which will be celebrated this weekend at Planting Fields Arboretum (10 a.m. to 5 p.m., April 26 and 27). Maintaining a tree board, having a community tree ordinance and spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry are the other core standards.
“Trees are such a constant in our lives that we tend to overlook the important contributions they make in beautifying and creating a healthier and more sustainable environment for all of us,” Venditto says. “My Town Board members and I will continue to do everything we can to see that our community tree program continues to flourish so our town can pass on an enduring heritage of a vital natural resource to future generations.”
