CITY OF WATERTOWN, NEW YORK

OFFICE OF PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

CITY HALL ROOM 305
245 WASHINGTON STREET
WATERTOWN, NEW YORK 13601-3380
(315) 785-7741

MEDIA RELEASE
For Immediate Release Michael J. DeMarco, Planner
April 25, 2023 (315) 785-7884

ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION ON FRIDAY, APRIL 28

BEGINS A WEEKLONG TREE PLANTING INITIATIVE
IN THE CITY OF WATERTOWN

On Friday, April 28, 2023, at 12:00 p.m., the City’s 26th Annual Arbor Day Ceremony
will be held at First Presbyterian Church, located at 403 Washington Street in Watertown.

A bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) tree will be planted in honor of the late T. Urling
Walker, who served as Watertown City mayor from 1984-1992, for his role in leading the charge
for a greener Watertown through tree planting efforts dating back to the mid 1970's. Following
the ice storm of 1991, and microburst of 1995; both resulting in the widespread loss of tree
canopy throughout the city, T. Urling Walker helped to activate citizens and the City to begin
aggressively replacing lost tree canopy. These early efforts lead to the formation of the City’s
street tree advisory board, Tree Watertown, and the City’s modern urban forestry program.

2023 marks the 26th consecutive year that Tree Watertown has observed Arbor Day in the
City. Watertown City Mayor, Jeffrey M. Smith, will lead the tree planting portion of the event
with the reading of the 2023 Arbor Day Proclamation, and April 28, 2023, will be proclaimed as
Arbor Day in the City of Watertown.

On Saturday, April 29, 2023, at 9:00 a.m., Watertown Noon Rotary, in partnership
with Tree Watertown, and the City, conducts their annual spring tree planting project. This
year’s project takes place at various locations along Massey Street to help increase tree canopy
percentages along this heavily traveled corridor; including the intersection of Massey Street and
Arsenal Street at St. Patrick’s Church in which the church proactively and wisely removed 15 EAB
infested ash trees in 2022. Other planting locations include City owned property, and private
property along Massey Street. 40 new trees will be planted as part of this volunteer service
project. All interested citizens are encouraged to attend and participate.

From May 1 – May 4, 2023, The City’s Department of Public Works will complete their
Annual Spring Tree Planting Project with the planting of 75 trees. A significant portion of this
project will help to replace tree canopy lost due to the impacts of the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB)
or other tree health related issues.
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