Scarsdale Marks Arbor Day by Planting a White Oak in DeLima Park

The Village of Scarsdale announced its 42nd year of recognition as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, an honor that reflects the Village’s enduring commitment to cultivating a healthy and sustainable urban forest.

The Tree City USA program, sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation and run in partnership with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, honors communities that use urban forestry to improve sustainability and quality of life.

Village Staff displays Tree City sign
To qualify, a municipality must meet four standards:

-Maintain a tree board or department, enact a tree ordinance, invest at least $2 per capita in tree care, and hold an Arbor Day observance.

Cynthia Roberts, Matse' Jenkins and Madelaine EppensteinSo in honor of Arbor Day the Village held a tree planting in DeLima Park on Friday April 25, 2025. Members of the Village staff, trustees, Conservation Advisory Council, Friends of the Scarsdale Parks, Mayor Justin Arest, State Senator Shelley Mayer, County Executive Ken Jenkins and Tim Foley gathered at the park for the planting of a white oak tree, (Quercus alba)—a species recommended by the Friends of Scarsdale Parks for its ecological value and long-term contribution to Scarsdale’s urban canopy.

The Mayor welcomed everyone to the celebration and noted the importance of our tree canopy, saying that the Village was working to protect it. He introduced Cynthia Roberts of the Friends of the Scarsdale Parks who spoke about the white oak, noting that there are 16 native oak species in New York State. They are extremely slow growing and long-lived trees, reaching many hundreds of years old.

She said, “Scarsdale’s first official Heritage Tree is the Northern White Oak that still grows directly in front of the Scarsdale Woman’s Club on Drake Road. It is between 360 and 420 years old and legend has it that the Siwanoy Native Americans held ceremonies under the tree before Scarsdale was established.

She said that Scarsdale now only plants native trees.Kay Eiseman, Tim Foley and Madelaine Eppenstein

Why?

1. They evolved in this environment, soil, weather, insects and other wildlife, and therefore require less maintenance.
2. They are the best food source for our local food-webs.
3. They do not become invasive because they are kept in check by local wildlife.
4. White Oaks provide food and shelter for more species of creatures than any other tree species,
5. In response to flooding, one mature oak tree can take up 100 gallons-plus of water per day,

Roberts closed with a call to preserve our trees. She said, “We are hemorrhaging trees here in Scarsdale due to clear-cutting of lots for development. A home can be remodeled or a new home built without clear-cutting all of the trees on the lot. Scarsdale needs to step up our game. We need to strengthen our tree code and we need to plant more native trees.”

Madelaine Eppenstein from Friends of the Scarsdale Parks provided some information about DeLima Park. She said, “The acre at Autenrieth and Popham Roads was bought in 1970 for $75,000 and commemorates Edwin A. “Ted” DeLima , a resident of Quaker Ridge who served on the Village Board and the B.A.R. and devoted himself to the betterment of Scarsdale.” DeLima was the first President of the Scarsdale Historical Society which was founded in 1973.

Cynthia Roberts