Yorktown to Celebrate Arbor Day with 'Tree City' Status on May 4

Yorktown is celebrating its second annual Arbor Day with a ceremony on Friday, May 4 at Patriot Garden next to Town Hall, built around the vestiges of the old Put Railroad turntable.

The day will be dedicated to planting trees and educating residents on the benefits of trees, starting at 3 p.m. Officials will plant four trees in the Patriot Garden – donated by Con Ed and the Saw Mill River Nursery. 

"We also plan to hand out saplings of native White Spruce and Black Walnut trees to residents and especially to the winners of our Banner Design Contest for children," said Ann Kutter, Tree Conservation Advisory Commission member. 

Speakers will include a student from the BOCES Urban Forest Program talking about the program, a master gardner speaking about sustainable gardening and community gardens, and a representative from the Paint Our Town Purple, in whose recognition the red bud tree is being planted.

All will be on display on the day of the ceremony.

There is another reason to celebrate this year – Yorktown’s induction into the Tree City USA program. Keith Schepart of Yorktown’s Tree Conservation Advisory Commission will present Yorktown supervisor Michael Grace with a plaque that declares Yorktown to be a Tree City USA.

"Winning Tree City USA status demonstrates Yorktown cares about trees and the environment," Kutter said. 

In addition to the tree planting and recognition of the poster contest winners, there will have refreshments, saplings for residents to take and plant, and information on tree care, sustainable gardening, and the importance of trees available at tables in the park.

The ceremony is being made through a grant to the town from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

In case of rain, the ceremony will take place in the board room at Yorktown Town Hall.