Eighth tree planting event set in Spa City
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. » Sustainable Saratoga’s Urban Forestry Project will host its eighth tree planting event Saturday at High Rock Park.
The bi-annual Urban Forestry tree planting began in 2014 in partnership with the city’s Department of Public Works and, since inception, has planted 200 trees. Sustainable Saratoga and volunteers plan to plant 25 more Saturday.
“Trees shape our community and create a peaceful, aesthetically pleasing environment. They reduce air pollution and urban runoff into streams and lakes, and provide food and shelter for wildlife,” said Commissioner of Public Works Anthony “Skip” Scirocco. “Trees near buildings lower energy bills and increase property values. Tree-lined streets attract visitors to spend more on downtown businesses. We are proud to be named a Tree City USA for our excellence in urban forest management.”
The event kicks off at 9:30 a.m. April 28 with registration, training and site assignments before dispersing to planting sites at 10 a.m.
“This is an opportunity for new and seasoned gardeners to share in the satisfaction of giving back to beautify our great City” said Tom Denny, who serves as Sustainable Saratoga’s Urban Forestry Project chair. “We’ll train the volunteer planters how to properly place the tree in the ground and ask volunteers to wear garden gloves and bring a shovel if they have one.”
Most of the Sustainable Saratoga plantings under the Tree Toga initiative will be street trees in the city’s right-of-way, some in front of private homes and some at institutional properties. Home owners can volunteer to be tree hosts, agreeing to water and nurture the street tree during the first two vulnerable years. The care that tree hosts provide is critical to tree survival and the success of Sustainable Saratoga’s mission to preserve and expand Saratoga’s urban forest.
According to the city’s 2013 Urban & Community Forest Master Plan, trees are one of the most costeffective pieces in the city’s infrastructure. The plan cited research documenting that trees enhance retail and restaurant profitability, increase property values, save energy, improve air quality, slow climate change by storing carbon, reduce water pollution and water treatment costs, enhance our mental and physical health, beautify our city, provide habitat for songbirds and other wildlife and provide a direct link to Saratoga’s vibrant history.
If interested in supporting Sustainable Saratoga as a volunteer tree host, planter, waterer or event day volunteer, visit http://www.sustainablesaratoga.org/treetoga8/. Questions, suggestions or inquiries about donating to the tree fund can be sent to trees@ sustainablesaratoga.org.