Watertown to start week-long tree-planting initiative today

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (WWTI) – The City of Watertown will start a week-long tree-planting program starting today in honor of Arbor Day.

The festivities kick off at 10 a.m. today as part of the City’s 27th annual Arbor Day Ceremony that will be held at Bicentennial Park, located at the Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds in Watertown.

A northern catalpa tree will be planted in honor of Charlie Nevin, a founding member of Tree Watertown, for his lifetime of work in the field of forestry, his leadership in helping to establish Tree Watertown in 1995, and his commitment to a greener City through countless tree planting
initiatives in Watertown since the 1970s.

Jefferson County Soil and Water Conservation District staff provide information on the role trees plan in improving local water quality and stormwater management. Watertown Mayor Sarah Compo-Pierce, will lead the tree planting portion of the event with the reading of this year’s Arbor Day Proclamation, and April 26 will be proclaimed as Arbor Day in the City of Watertown.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, the Watertown Noon Rotary, in partnership with Tree Watertown, and the City, will host their annual spring tree planting project. This year’s project takes place on the grounds of Immaculate Heart Central School located at 1316 Ives Street and IHC Elementary located at 122 Winthrop Street.

From April 30 to May 2, the City’s Department of Public Works will complete its annual Spring Tree Planting Project with the planting of 80 trees. A significant portion of this project will help to replace trees lost due to the impacts of the invasive Emerald Ash Borer.