News
April 27, 2018Downtown Albany BID plants 16 new trees in celebration of Arbor Day
The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID), in partnership with the Albany Department of General Services (DGS) and Clover-Leaf Nurseries of Menands, spent the day planting sixteen, 10 – 20 foot-tall trees along State Street and North and South Pearl Streets.
Today’s plantings mark the beginning of a new pilot program developed by the Downtown Albany BID, who plan to continue planting new trees to replace dead or missing trees throughout the District each Arbor Day. For the next year, the BID staff and Clean Team will be responsible for watering each new tree in order to ensure that the roots will take. After that, the City of Albany will continue maintenance of the trees.
The chosen tree species, of which fifteen are Washington Hawthorne and one Hackberry, were recommended by the City of Albany’s Forestry Services, taking into account visibility and environmental concerns. Each tree weighs approximately 100 pounds and will reach approximately 30 – 50 feet in height once fully grown.
“Arbor Day is a day to recognize the countless ways trees beautify our neighborhoods and help contribute to the economic success of our Capital City,” said Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan. “These 16 new trees along Pearl Street and State Street will help enhance downtown Albany and make the area an even more special place to live, work, and visit. Thank you to the Downtown BID for their partnership and commitment to our city.”
“We are incredibly grateful to Mayor Kathy Sheehan for her administration’s commitment to Downtown and our continued partnership with the Department of General Services,” said Downtown Albany BID executive director Georgette Steffens. “They say a great city is judged by the way it receives its visitors, and this is another way the BID is rolling out the welcome mat.”
The BID’s Arbor Day tree planting program is part of the organization’s overall strategic plan to ensure the level of amenities matches the level of investment taking place in downtown Albany. Last year alone, the BID spent over $150,000 in public infrastructure improvements. Some of the projects completed in 2017 include the creation of the Olde English Downtown Dog Park, the installation of 40 new trash receptacles, the hanging of colorful welcome banners to line the District’s street, and doubling the number of self-watering planters.
