Suozzi & Hall Announce Addition of 100 Trees to Downtown Hempstead
Village of Hempstead, N.Y. – As part of their ongoing commitment to beautify the Village of Hempstead and revitalize its downtown, Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi and Hempstead Village Mayor Wayne Hall today announced a plan that will result in the planting of wire-friendly trees and the installation of a new guard rail on the median at Franklin Avenue and Peninsula Boulevard.
In all, approximately 100 trees will be planted along the median at a cost of $320,000. Nassau County has included within the proposed 2008 capital plan/budget $1million for the planting of deciduous trees along streets, evergreen trees around recharge basins, and various trees in parks. To help off-set the cost, LIPA will reimburse Nassau County $50 for every street tree planted that is wire-friendly.
“I am delighted to be working with the Village of Hempstead on this project,” Suozzi said. “Not only will these trees beautify the Village of Hempstead, but they will reduce green house gases, reduce storm water runoff and soil erosion and serve as a habitat for wildlife once they are planted. The planting of trees and improving streetscapes and two of the first steps we can take to make Nassau County sustainable by 2020.”
The project encompasses an area beginning at South Franklin St and continuing south to President Street and the wide center median of Peninsula Boulevard provides sufficient open space to plant large shade trees. In areas where the median narrows or there are underground utilities, smaller ornamental trees will be planted.
Nassau’s street tree planting program focuses on three (3) broad categories of plantings:
- Replacement of damaged weak wooded tress with stronger branched street trees.
- Planting of wire-friendly trees in areas previously devoid of street trees.
- Planting of large shade trees in large planting spaces along County roadways.
The County will also plant trees requested by residents in front of homes along County roadways and as screenings at County storm water recharge basins.
