Hempstead Town Supervisor Laura Gillen was joined by members from the town’s newly formed Tree Committee to celebrate the town’s first National Arbor Day by planting a tree in front of Town Hall.
The tree planting marked the last and final step before the Town of Hempstead becomes an officially designated “Tree City USA” by the Arbor Day Foundation.
“Trees yield three to five times their cost in overall benefits,” Gillen said. “From boosting property values and cutting energy consumption, to mitigating flooding and erosion, trees are an extremely cost-effective solution to greening our environment, as well as our budget.”
By qualifying as an official “Tree City,” the Town of Hempstead will be able to apply for millions of dollars in previously untapped state and federal grants to purchase trees.
To be eligible, the town formed a select Tree Committee in order to oversee and perform necessary work on all trees, along with provide clear guidance for planting, maintaining and removing trees from Town streets, parks and other public places.
“The Town of Hempstead lost over 1,000 trees from superstorm Sandy, but we are continuing to lose trees in many neighborhoods due to the prolonged saltwater exposure during that storm,” Gillen said. “This designation will not only renew the town’s commitment to the environment, but put us in line to qualify for new, replacement trees, without expense to the taxpayers.”
A baby Hawthorn Winter King, an indigenous tree to the Northeast that fills with red berries in the summer before turning orange into winter, was planted at Town Hall to mark the occasion and official designation.
