Village of Potsdam to Begin Fall Street Tree Plantings
POTSDAM, N.Y. – The Village of Potsdam will begin the first phase of its 2025-26 community tree-planting project in early November, marking a major step in expanding the community’s urban forest. Forty-seven new street and park trees will be planted this fall, followed by an additional 32 in spring 2026, for a total of 79 new trees throughout neighborhoods, parks, and other public spaces.
The project is funded in part by a $13,536 grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Urban and Community Forestry program. The initiative supports Potsdam’s long-term goal of maintaining a healthy and full tree canopy, improving air quality, providing shade and stormwater benefits, and beautifying residential and public areas.
“The trees along our streets and in our parks are an important part of making Potsdam a healthy, attractive and sustainable place to live,” said Mayor Alexandra Jacobs Wilke. “The Village is pleased to put grant dollars to use for this forward-looking investment in our public spaces.”
Planting will be carried out by the Village Department of Public Works under the guidance of Aaron Barrigar, a certified arborist with the St. Lawrence County Soil and Water Conservation District. Barrigar helped carefully select a mix of species to fit site conditions and maintain a healthy level of biodiversity in accordance with the Village’s Urban and Community Forest Management Plan.
The fall planting is scheduled to begin as soon as November 3, with a second round planned for April 2026. Trees will be planted in the Village right-of-way along residential streets, and in key public spaces such as Ives Park. Each newly planted tree will include a “gator” watering bag to help ensure healthy establishment. Residents near planting sites are encouraged to assist by taking care to avoid damaging tree trunks with mowers or trimmers.
The Potsdam Urban Forestry project was selected for funding in 2024 through the DEC’s competitive Urban and Community Forestry grant program, which supports local efforts to plan, plant and manage trees in cities and villages across New York State. While this project is supported in part by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the opinions, results, findings, and interpretations of data are solely those of the Village of Potsdam and do not necessarily represent the views of the State.
For more information, residents may contact the Village of Potsdam Planning and Development department at 315-265-1670 or by email at development@villageofpotsdamny.gov.