City Of Albany: Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan Plants 1,000th New Tree As Part Of 2,025 Trees By 2025 Initiative

Press release from the City of Albany:

October 28, 2021

Contact: Frank Zeoli, Deputy Commissioner

ALBANY, NY – Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and DGS Commissioner Sergio Panunzio joined 1st Ward Councilmember Sonia Frederick, Albany County Legislature Chairman Andrew Joyce, Charles Touhey, and representatives from the Downtown Business Improvement District, Central Avenue Business Improvement District, Albany Housing Authority, Albany Parking Authority, Assemblymember Pat Fahy’s office, and the New York League of Conservation Voters to plant the 1,000th new tree in Albany since the initiative began in the Fall of 2020. 

PHOTOS: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmX1Pc2t 

VIDEO: https://fb.watch/8WHTH0xUFn/

Since the Fall of 2020, the City of Albany has focused tree planting in Wards and neighborhoods where the urban forest is most at risk, including in the South End, Arbor Hill, West Hill, and Pine Hills neighborhoods. More than 50% of the 1,000 trees planted since the Fall of 2020 have been planted in these neighborhoods alone.

Of the 1,000 new trees, 63% are planted as part of street and sidewalk revitalization projects, 25% are planted solely to enhance the urban forest, and 12% are planted through the Adopt-A-Tree program. The three most commonly planted trees as chosen by residents are the Accolade Cherry, the Eastern Redbud, and the Japanese Tree Lilac.

Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said, “My administration has invested more than $40 million in street and sidewalk revitalization since taking office, however we know we must invest even more to ensure our streets are in optimal condition. These three new initiatives will not only help us strengthen our investments in streets but also help extend the life of our newly revitalized infrastructure and help protect the environment. Thank you to Commissioner Panunzio and the Department of General Services for engaging in these innovative solutions to decades-long problems.”

Department of General Services Commissioner Sergio Panunzio said, "This initiative is connecting individuals and businesses with the opportunity to adopt a tree, nurture it and watch it grow for many years to come. I am proud we have already planted our 1,000th new tree, and I am confident with the help of the Albany community we can re-populate our urban forest.”

1st Ward Common Councilmember Sonia Frederick said, “I am thrilled that the 1,000th tree is being planted at Krank Park in the South End. Our neighborhood has been historically under-forested, and I look forward to the continued tree increase that we will see in the future. Thank you to Mayor Kathy Sheehan and the Department of General Services, who have greatly surpassed timing expectations for 2025 tree initiative.”

Georgette Steffens, Executive Director of the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District said, "The BID is thrilled to be a partner with the City on their mission to add thousands of trees to the City streetscape. Trees in urban locations are imperative as they help to improve air quality, absorb traffic noise, and reduce stormwater runoff, all while building neighborhood and civic pride. Thank you to Mayor Sheehan for your vision in bringing this strategic initiative to fruition."

This press release was produced by the City of Albany. The views expressed here are the author’s own.