SOUTHBURY - In 1996 the Board of Selectmen appointed a committee to research and facilitate a tree plan to restore aging trees reaching the end of their life expectancy.Catherine and Paul Palmer stepped up to the responsibility of leading the implementation of the program and, 13 years later, there is much to be proud of.
The program began with planting pioneer Maple trees at the Kingsland site, contributed by the Stiles family. Since then, more than 200 trees have been purchased and planted along Southbury roads and in Southbury parks.
Thousands of dollars have been contributed by individual private citizens and six successful "America the Beautiful" matching grant applications assisted in the fund raising.
Hundreds of saplings were planted in 1998 by volunteers in Schielke Park.
The first generation of those nursery trees have matured and were transplanted to the Grace Meadows Elderly Housing property between 2006 and 2008.
This year, seven trees from the nursery were planted along town roadsides. Thirteen White Pines were planted at the northern end of Kingsland beyond the natural berm, from private donations to the Tree Committee.
The Tree Plan for 2010 is underway for planting replacement trees at the Schielke Park Town Tree Nursery as a future tree resource for the town.
The Adopt-A-Spot program continues with five sites on Heritage Road maintained by Birchwood Landscaping of CT; one site in front of White Oak Cemetery is maintained by the Bennett family; and one site at Exit 15 is maintained by VASADA.
The two sites adopted in 2009 are under the care of Pine Meadows Gardens and Winslow Landscaping. The two remaining sites at Exit 15 and the intersection of Route 67 and Community House Road are maintained by the town Public Works Department and the committee is hopeful that sponsors for those two spots will soon come forward.
Eleven National Arbor Day Foundation "Tree City USA" applications have been written and approved, and Southbury is one of 14 Tree Cities of the 169 municipalities in Connecticut to be recognized for the 11th year.
Tree City USA signs are located at four entrances into Southbury.
Catherine and Paul Palmer continue to lead the committee with members Thomas Gaipa, Patrick Kearns and Terrence Modzelewski.
Public Works Director and Town Tree Warden Thomas Crowe and the Public Works staff continue to provide indispensable tree pruning and removal in cooperation with CL&P, the state Department of Transportation and AT&T, says Mrs. Palmer.
