Media Advisory | Friday at 11:30 a.m.: Mayor Justin Elicker to Join Students and Staff of Riverside Academy and New Haven Department of Parks and Public Works for Arbor Day Celebration and Tree Planting Ceremony

[Lenny Speiller]

 

MAYOR JUSTIN M. ELICKER

CITY OF NEW HAVEN

 

*** MEDIA ADVISORY ***

for Friday, April 28, 2023

 

MAYOR JUSTIN ELICKER TO JOIN STUDENTS AND STAFF OF RIVERSIDE ACADEMY, NEW HAVEN DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKS, & URI FOR ARBOR DAY CELEBRATION AND TREE PLANTING CEREMONY

 

Two trees to be planted in remembrance of celebrated Riverside Academy educators, the late Principal Wanda Gibbs and the late Teacher Marites Siervo.

 

New Haven residents can request free street trees through the City’s partnership with the Urban Resources Institute at uri.yale.edu/request-tree or 203-432-6189.

 

NEW HAVEN, CT – On Arbor Day, Friday, April 28 at 11:30 a.m., Mayor Justin Elicker will join the Riverside Academy school community, the New Haven Department of Parks and Public Works, and the Urban Resources Institute for an Arbor Day Celebration and tree planting ceremony.

 

Two trees, a Zelkova and Japanese Tree Lilac, will be planted in remembrance of celebrated Riverside Academy educators, the late Principal Wanda Gibbs and the late Teacher Marites Siervo, whose family members will be attendance. The Arbor Day program will consist of brief remarks about Arbor Day and the importance of trees to our urban environment, tributes to the two late educators, and a tree planting ceremony. The trees will be planted along the Sargent Drive side of the school that is currently void of trees and will provide shade and cooling for students as they wait for transportation.

 

The school will be adopting the trees through the City of New Haven’s tree planting partnership with the Urban Resources Institute (URI), where residents can request a free tree and URI will plant it for free in their curb strip. Renters, homeowners, and businesses are eligible provided they are willing to water the trees for the first 2-3 years after planting -- and the students of Riverside Academy will care for the newly planted trees at their school for the first 3 years.

 

Residents can learn more about the program and request free street trees at uri.yale.edu/request-tree or by calling 203-432-6189. Through a city investment of over $250,000, an estimated 500 free street trees will be planted through this program in the Elm City in 2023.

 

New Haven currently has approximately 28,700 street trees and is celebrated as having the first public tree planting program in the United States, planting approximately 250 sycamore and elm trees around the New Haven Green and Downtown New Haven in 1759, gaining the nickname The Elm City.

 

EVENT DETAILS

 

WHAT: City of New Haven Arbor Day Celebration and Tree Planting Ceremony

 

WHEN: Friday, April 28, 2023, at 11:30 a.m.

 

WHERE: Riverside Education Academy, 103 Hallock Ave, New Haven, CT 06511

 

WHO:

• Mayor Justin Elicker
• Annie Mixsell, Tree System Coordinator, New Haven Department of Parks and Public Works;
• Derek Stephenson, Principal, Riverside Academy
• Riverside Academy school community;
• Family members of the late Wanda Gibbs and the late Marites Siervo;
• Chris Ozyck, Urban Resources Institute;
• Among others.

 

###

 

Press Contact:

Lenny H. Speiller (he/him)

Director of Communications

Mayor Justin Elicker | City of New Haven

165 Church Street | New Haven, CT 06511

Phone: 203-725-4249

Email: Lspe...@newhavenct.gov