Tree News

Scarsdale’s annual Arbor Day Celebration was held at Red Maple Swamp on Friday Apriil 29th. The Village celebrated its 28th consecutive Tree City USA designation with the planting of three Red Maple trees that derive their name from their brilliant autumnal foliage and are common in swamps and moist slopes throughout New York. The Red Maple tree is a rapid-growing tree and grows between 40 and 60 feet tall.

Red Maple Swamp was chosen for this year’s event because of a clean-up and planting project started by Boy Scout Mark Colbran. As part of his Eagle Scout Service Project, Mark coordinated 33 volunteers to clear fallen leaves, remove invasive plants, and clean and dispose of trash and litter. Wood chips and logs from the removed invasive trees will be used to form trails that run through Red Maple Swamp. Mark and other volunteers will replant native trees and plants to finish the project. As part of the project, the Village refurbished the storm water drainage system at the South entrance to eliminate erosion on the main trail.

The Village Highway Department is currently planting 200 trees in the Village right-of way in front of area homes. They have expanded the tree-planting program to replace the large number of trees lost to storms last year. Currently, you will see Village employees on the streets, planting Red Chokecherry trees, Japenese Zelcova, Eastern Redbud and Autumn Flame Red Maple trees.

To request a new Village tree for your property, contact the Village of Scarsdale Department at Public Works at 722-1150 to be placed on the waiting list.

Pictured from left to right: Boy Scout Mark Colbran; Suzanne Busby, Superintendent of Parks; Trustee Kay Eisenman; Mayor Flisser; Trustee Stacey Brodsky; Trustee Robert Harrison; Lena Crandall; and Fred Gervat.