American Basswood Tree Planted in Colonial Acres Park for Arbor Day

Scarsdale is known as “A Village in a Park,” largely due to the wide array of varieties of tress that populate our tree canopy. This year, for the 41st year in a row, Scarsdale was named a “Tree City” by the National Arbor Day Foundation. To celebrate the designation, the Village planted an American Basswood tree in Colonial Acres Park to replace another tree that was engulfed by invasive vines and had to be removed.

On Friday after April 26, officials from the state, county and village along with resident volunteers gathered in this lovely park for the official planting of the tree. There was representation from the Village Manager’s office, the Recreation Department and the Department of Public Works in recognition of their roles in maintaining Scarsdale’s tree canopy.Alexandra Marshall and Brian Gray

On hand was the Mayor, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, Senator Shelley Mayer and County Executive George Latimer along with Trustee Karen Brews and volunteers from the Friends of Scarsdale Parks and Vinecutters who have been battling the aggressive vines that are smothering village trees.

Mayer Arest thanked the volunteers for their efforts to preserve the environment including the county’s first food scrapping program that has become a model for other communities across the state.

Madelaine Eppenstein from the Friends of Scarsdale Parks noted the importance of preserving the village’s tree canopy.

Acting Village Manager Alexander Marshall thanked the Vinecutters for their efforts to stem the growth of the vines that are strangling many Village trees.

Standing in the bucolic park State Assemblywoman Amy Paulin said, “how lucky we all are to live in this community.”

County Executive George Latimer complimented Scarsdale for its leadership in conservation and environmental initiatives.

Mayor Arest read a portion of the proclamation below – and everyone lifted a shovel to plant the new tree.

Arbor Day Proclamation

Mayor Justin Arest and County Executive George Latimer-Whereas, in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees and the practice has evolved into Arbor Day, which was first observed with the planting of more than one million trees in Nebraska, and is now observed throughout the nation and world; and

-Whereas, trees are a prized and cherished resource that reduce the erosion of precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, purify the air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife; and

-Whereas, trees are a renewable resource providing us paper for our many uses, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and countless other products that improve our quality of life; and

-Whereas, trees in our Village add to property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, beautify our community, and wherever planted, are a source of elation and renewal; and

-Whereas, the Village of Scarsdale has been recognized as a Tree City USA community by the National Arbor Day Foundation for 41 consecutive years, for its conscientious, well-managed forestry program, which the Village is committed to maintaining; and

-Now, Therefore, I, Justin Arest, Mayor of the Village of Scarsdale, do hereby proclaim Friday, April 26, 2024, as Arbor Day in the Village of Scarsdale, and urge all residents to celebrate and support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands; and be it further

Proclaimed, that all residents are urged to plant and care for trees to enhance their quality of life and promote the well-being of ours and future generations.