Over President’s Day weekend, both the Village and Town of Ossining were notified that their applications to be named Tree Cities for 2020 had been approved. The Town of Ossining has received this important designation for 21 years, while this is the Village’s first year being honored by the Arbor Day Foundation.
Ossining has long been considered a forward-thinking community by neighbors throughout Westchester and New York State when it comes to taking action on climate change. Both the Village and Town have worked on numerous initiatives to decrease the community’s carbon footprint while enhancing and protecting the natural landscape in this Hudson River community. Ossining also boasts active and engaged residents who encourage both governments to raise the bar when it comes to sustainability. In recent years, both the Town and Village converted to LED streetlights, have invested in electric vehicles and EV infrastructure, have participated in programs to encourage solar power for homes and businesses, and have participated in the Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program through Sustainable Westchester, in which residents are able to secure renewable energy supply at a reduced price through group purchasing. Currently, the Village of Briarcliff Manor has joined the Ossinings in a consortium for EnergySmart Homes through Sustainable Westchester, a program through which homeowners and renters can find benefits to making improvements to their homes that will decrease their impact on the grid and save them money in utility bills. In recent years, both communities have begun to invest more heavily in urban forestry, tree and plant management, and eliminating invasive species, all in furtherance of preserving the community’s precious natural resources. Most recently the Village of Ossining has passed new wetlands regulations.
“I am incredibly proud to share that the Village of Ossining has been honored in this way for the very first time,” said Ossining Mayor Rika Levin. “It is a priority of mine that we look through a “green” lens on every project we undertake, and I look forward to many similar enhancements which improve the lives of our residents in the coming months and years.”
“The Town is proud to continue its legacy of environmental stewardship and care for our community trees,” said Supervisor Dana Levenberg. “We are very proud of the work we have already accomplished and are looking ahead to a bright future for our parks, open spaces, and trees. All of our initiatives are critical not only to environmental sustainability but also good public health for our residents and visitors.”
Both the Village and Town anticipate being named a Tree City for 2021 as well—the Village was awarded a $38,000 grant through the Department of Environmental Conservation’s Urban Forestry Grant, where 75 native species trees will be planted at Nelson Park and Nelson Sitting Park. This project also ties in an educational component—the Village’s Environmental Advisory Committee will be designing interpretative signage for the park to teach visitors about the various species of trees, and Green Ossining will be hosting a virtual tree planting presentation for residents to watch from their homes.
The Town of Ossining received $33,750 in grant funding for tree maintenance at Ryder and Engel Parks. Additionally, the Town has partnered with a group of citizen volunteers in 2021 for the introduction of the Ossining Town Parks Habitat Stewards program. Focusing on Ryder Park in 2021, this group of volunteers will be identifying and mitigating invasive species and vines. The volunteers will also be planting and caring for young, native trees this spring in an effort to care for and grow a sustainable, natural habitat in Ryder Park. This volunteer group plans on rotating to other Town parks in future years and will continue to engage the community on the importance of caring for our natural habitat and native species.
Additionally, both the Village and Town will celebrate Arbor Day this coming April, during which the community will be invited to virtually come together for a tree planting and related programming.
