FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2020
MEDIA CONTACTS: Gordon Tepper, Rebecca Cheng, Matthew Leonenko and Michael Anderson | (516) 869-7794
Town Plants Native Trees and Shrubs to Protect Local Environment
North Hempstead, NY – Supervisor Judi Bosworth and the Town Board were proud to announce that North Hempstead received the Trees for Tribs grant from the Department of Environmental Conservation to plant a multitude of native trees and shrubs at Manhasset Valley Park along its tributary, Whitney Creek.
“We are thankful to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation for this grant,” said Supervisor Judi Bosworth. “The addition of these trees and shrubs will help prevent stormwater pollution, protect our tributary, and provide critical protection for our water quality for generations to come.”
Whitney Creek takes runoff from the surrounding higher elevations and directs it out to Manhasset Bay of the Long Island Sound. Manhasset Valley Park is located at lower elevations compared to the surrounding communities, which leads to runoff of pesticides, fertilizers, and many other pollutants flowing into the tributary and eventually out to Long Island Sound.
As part of the Trees for Tribs grant the Town planted a riparian buffer of native trees and shrubs that will help to prevent polluted stormwater from entering the tributary and clean any water that does make its way into the creek. The plantings were placed along the entire length of the 1,400 foot tributary on both sides and within 35 feet of the creek at Manhasset Valley Park. This increased the riparian forest by approximately 3 acres. Native trees and shrubs also provide a multitude of other benefits like food and resources for wildlife, the removal of air pollutants, absorption of carbon dioxide, cooling, and beautification.
Preparation of the site began in August and continued into the fall where the Town’s Parks and Recreation staff, removed weeds, vines and many invasive plants including porcelain berry (Ampelopsis brevipedunculata), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), autumn clematis (Clematis terniflora) and lesser celandine (Ficaria verna). These were hand weeded, weed wacked, and cut back. In addition many overgrown, diseased, and dead trees and shrubs were removed or pruned.
The native trees and shrubs were laid out and planted in September and October in house by Town staff. Species include flowering dogwood (Cornus florida), eastern redbud (Cercis canadensis), inkberry (Ilex glabra), ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius), black chokeberry (Aronia melanocapra), and spicebush (Lindera benzoin).
As part of the grant’s education and outreach portion the Town taught residents about the importance of trees and the Town’s tree conservation efforts. A new website was created: www.northhempsteadny.gov/trees and a social media campaign for “Tree Tuesday” was launched.
For additional information on the variety of trees and shrubs planted along the tributary visit: www.northhempsteadny.gov/nativeplants. You can also visit Manhasset Valley Park to take a stroll along the creek and see them in person.
Sue Reaside from the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department prepares to plant many trees and shrubs at Manhasset Valley Park.
Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius) shrubs planted along Whitney Creek at Manhasset Valley Park.