The City of Hoboken today invited residents to celebrate Arbor Day by joining the annual Joyce Kilmer Arbor Day Tree Tour on Friday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Members of the City’s Shade Tree Commission and the City Arborist will guide participants through Hoboken’s urban tree canopy to highlight the diverse tree species found on City streets and in local parks.
The Hop bus tour, which begins at the Multi-Service Center at 124 Grand St., offers residents an opportunity to learn more about the role trees play in improving the community’s environment and quality of life. Trees help improve air quality by filtering pollutants and producing oxygen, reduce the urban heat island effect by lowering temperatures on streets and sidewalks during the summer, and help manage stormwater by absorbing rainfall and reducing runoff into the combined sewer system. Trees also support mental health and well-being by providing access to green space, and beautifying neighborhoods and streetscapes.
“Hoboken’s trees are essential to the health, beauty, and sustainability of our city,” said Mayor Emily B. Jabbour. “Events like the Joyce Kilmer Arbor Day Tree Tour help connect our community with nature and highlight the importance of continuing to grow and protect our tree canopy.”
As part of the ongoing commitment to expand and maintain the urban tree canopy, the City plans to plant more than 80 trees across Hoboken this year, as funded by a USDA grant. The planting season will begin on Thursday, April 23, when three new trees are planted in Church Square Park with the help of local schoolchildren. The City is planting Black Tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) and Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) trees, which are native to New Jersey.
Each tree planted represents an investment in Hoboken’s long-term resilience and the continued quality of life for its residents.
Hoboken property owners can request a tree planting in front of their property by submitting an online application at https://hoboken.seamlessdocs.com/f/shadetree. The Street Tree Application will be reviewed by the City Arborist and the Hoboken Shade Tree Commission, a volunteer board that aims to develop, promote, sustain, and regulate an effective and safe shade tree program that benefits the City’s trees and, in turn, enhances the environmental, economic, and social well-being of Hoboken residents.
Residents interested in joining the Hoboken Shade Tree Commission can apply online at https://hoboken.seamlessdocs.com/f/AppforAppointmenttoBoardsampCommissions.
For more information on the Commission, go to www.hobokennj.gov/municipal-boards/shade-tree-commission.
