Amboy tree planting volunteers take a selfie with the new community trees in the background. Photos Courtesy Town of Amboy

The Amboy Town Tree Committee sent this lovely narrative from their Arbor Day tree planting dedication on April 27, 2019, supported by a Council Arbor Day grant. Amboy (pop. ~1265) is located in the southeast part of Oswego County.

“A nation that destroys its soils destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air and giving fresh strength to our people.” —Franklin Delano Roosevelt

On this Arbor Day 2019, thanks to a generous grant from the NYS Urban Forestry Council, we in the Town of Amboy are building on that tradition by adding a new grove of trees in our town park—trees that will flower and fruit and even add a bit of shade to this popular community gathering spot.

Enthusiastic Amboy Arbor Day volunteers contended with the elements for their April 27 planting.

The John Leemann Memorial Park is a location that brings together our community and celebrates not only our town heritage but also the beauty of our natural surroundings. Today, smaller towns seem to be fragmented, with the concept of community appearing to be a thing of the past.

By creating a welcoming landscape here at the park, we hope townspeople will benefit from all that trees (and nature, in general) have to offer—a retreat from the heat, nature’s entertainment, and a serenity derived from a truly “unplugged” experience. We want to connect, rather than isolate, the people in our town, and hopefully build an appreciation for nature that will serve us better in the future.

No planting after-party is complete without a doggie.

With the formation of our Town Tree Committee, we will be creating a long-term forestry management plan for the Park as well as plans for additional trail and recreational projects.

There is so much that Mother Nature has to offer us … even in, what to some, would be considered a very tiny space. As billionaire Warren Buffet said, “Someone’s sitting in the shade today … because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” So, let’s get started!

Newly planted trees beckon visitors to Amboy’s John Leemann Memorial Park.

The Amboy Town Board Members and the community would like to thank the efforts of the Park Committee—Beverly Levreault, Mary Ann Clark, Tom Vona, and Dick Bryant—as well as Dave Marzolf for help with installation and Alix Krueger for technical assistance. Additional thanks to our Highway Department for cleaning up the winter mess, preparing the site, and digging the holes.