Earth Day Tree Planting in Astoria
NY Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul helped volunteers from One Tree Planted and the city’s Parks Department plant a young sapling in Astoria on Earth Day, April 22. OANA President Richard Khuzami and NYC Queens Parks Commissioner Michael Dockett were among the guests who also participated. – Photo Dean Moses
There are many benefits to planting trees: according to the NYC Parks Department, “trees make our city more livable by:
- removing air pollutants that can trigger respiratory illnesses
- reducing stormwater run-off
- keeping the city cooler during the summer
- providing shelter and food for birds and other wildlife
- offsetting climate change by reducing energy used by buildings, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions that pollute our air.”
If you are a property owner, you can request a free street tree. Each location you request is surveyed in person by a Parks Forester to make sure there are no conflicts with the surrounding infrastructure, and that the site is a suitable one. If a site is found to be appropriate for a new tree, the Parks Department will add it to a list to be planted during their next available planting season. Requests can be made for existing empty tree beds as well as paved sidewalk locations.