Mineola, NY – Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi was joined today by Department of Public Works Commissioner Ray Ribeiro, County Legislators and representatives from Nassau’s school districts to announce a program that will bring 56 trees to 40 schools in Nassau County.

“Not only will these trees beautify school properties, but they will teach students about the environmental benefits of trees, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said County Executive Suozzi. “Planting new trees is one of the biggest steps we can take to make Nassau County sustainable by 2020. Every tree that gets planted will play an important role in making our communities greener, healthier, and more beautiful.”

Nassau County has partnered with ReLeaf, Cornell Cooperative, EPA, Audobon Society and League of Women Voters to promote the program, called the “Greening of Nassau”, and will fund the $10,000 cost for purchasing the trees through the capital project. The program also marks the beginning of the County’s annual tree planting capital project.

Participating schools will pick up trees today at the Nassau County Department of Public Works Garages in Hempstead or Hicksville and will plant them on school property with guidance from Cornell Cooperative Extension and other program partners.

Last year, Nassau County planted over 2000 trees along County roads and in County parks and storm water basins, and the focus of this year's program will be to fill the hundreds of empty tree pits located in sidewalk areas through the County. More than $500,000 has been allocated for countywide tree plantings this year.

The announcement was held at the Nassau County Department of Public Works in Hempstead, which is part of County Executive Suozzi’s initiative to building a “green” DPW garage. The project is will be funded by the capital project and will also receive federal stimulus dollars. Plans for the building, which is in the beginning of the design phase, include installing solar energy panels, clean fuel filling stations and having an entirely clean fuel truck fleet.