Arbor Day participants surround a newly planted mountain ash tree (Sorbus aucuparia ‘Cardinal Royal’) in the 1921 Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Memorial Park in St. Johnsville, New York. Among the group are NYS Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara and Jessica Singleton, Constituent Services liaison to NYS Senator Michelle Hinchey and St. Johnsville Mayor Charles Straney.

The Town of St. Johnsville, NY (Montgomery County) celebrated Arbor Day on Saturday, May 29th. A Council grant triggered significant additional donations from the community. Friends of Johnsville President Robert Smith says, “I am astonished to tell you that to date we have received over $8,000 in public donations towards our goal of restoring the botanical garden and public amenities that were created 100 years ago in our Soldiers‘ & Sailors‘ Memorial Park. Simply put, the Quick Start Grant award from the NYSUFC touched a nerve in the community that continues to inspire.”

Cold temperature and rain did not delay the Arbor Day tree planting of a crabapple tree (Malus ‘Show Time’) in St. Johnsville, New York nor did it impede guitarist Connor Dunckel, from serenading the group for the three hour event.

Robert Smith says, “In addition, we are in contact with NYSDEC Urban and Community Forestry Partnership Coordinator Christina McLaughlin and St. Johnsville Urban Forester Scott Moxham in our quest to become a Tree City.” 

A swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor) tree was planted by WWII and Korean War veterans on Memorial Day, 2021 in St. Johnsville’s Soldiers’ & Sailors” Memorial Park, concluding the Village’s first annual Arbor Day celebration.

To call attention to their restoration work in the Park, the Friends will be building an ADA compliant walking path through the park so folks can better enjoy the newly planted trees as well and the mature trees which remain. “Using a calculator from Perdue University we have a rough idea that our Mother Silver Maple tree (DBH 17 feet) dates from around 1805,” Smith says.  

Three of eight arborvitae (Thuja plicata ‘Green Giant’) planted in Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Memorial Park, St. Johnsville, New York, as part of their first Arbor Day celebration. Over $4,000 in trees and shrubs were planted on May 29, 2021 with Quick Start Grant funds awarded by the Council and with contributions by the Village of St. Johnsville and members of the community.