IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Sarah Greenleaf, Tree Warden
Contact email address: sgreenleaf@easthamptonma.gov
City of Easthampton Becomes a Tree City USA Community and Celebrates Arbor Day with Tree Planting
Easthampton, MA - the city is among the most recent cities and towns to join over 3,500 communities across the country as a member of the ‘Tree City USA’ program. The Arbor Day Foundation awards the Tree City USA title to communities that demonstrate commitment to increasing and improving urban tree canopy. Easthampton has met the core requirements to qualify for the program and is proud to become a Tree City USA community.
A cornerstone of being a Tree City USA community is celebrating Arbor Day. At 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 20th, please join the Mayor, Department of Public Works, and Tree Warden as they commemorate Arbor Day and celebrate becoming a Tree City USA. The event will be held on the east side of the Manhan Rail Trail behind 24 Mechanic Street.
Last March, several public trees along this section of the rail trail were removed without the City’s permission. Easthampton values every bit of its urban canopy and is therefore seeking legal discourse, aiming to eventually replant the cleared area and reclaim some of the ecological and social benefits that were lost. The replanting effort will begin at the May 20th event as the Tree Warden plants a swamp white oak tree - a native, long-lived tree species that will provide important shade to trail users, as well as habitat benefits to wildlife.
At the event, Mayor Nicole LaChappelle will read the official Arbor Day Proclamation and a limited number of tree seedlings will be available to residents.
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