White Plains Launches Tree Planting Program

The following announcement was sent from the office of White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach. Click here to post your own news stories to Patch.

The normally busy Department of Public Works has been even busier lately. This spring and summer DPW planted 135 native trees throughout the City. Approximately 80 were planted in the downtown area as "street trees" in various locations within the public Rights-of-Way.

DPW focused on the downtown planting on empty tree wells and tree wells that contained dead trees. An additional 100 trees are planned for various City-owned properties in November as part of DPW's annual fall planting program.

"In addition to having a bustling downtown with good shopping and restaurants, we want our downtown to be aesthetically appealing as well," said White Plains Mayor Thomas Roach. This enhances the City's reputation and helps our businesses. Maintaining a clean, safe and visually appealing downtown is a priority for me as Mayor and one that we will continue to work on."

In addition, after extensive durability testing, the City will begin utilizing Flexi-pave in tree wells this fall. Flexi-pave is a material made from recycled tires that permits the tree to transfer water and air while enabling easy walking on its smooth firm surface. The Flexi-pave tree well program will be launched in two areas. The first area of concentration is Post Road, between Mamaroneck Ave. and South Broadway, where nearly 40 trees are affected. Most of these tree pits will be reconstructed, followed by the application of Flexi-pave. This material is ideal for areas of the downtown where the trees must co-exist with pedestrians in relatively narrow sidewalk locations (less than 10 feet wide). The pedestrian handicapped access ramps at intersections in this area will also be constructed to the latest ADA standards. Finally, the two-foot wide, stamped, concrete "brick" trim strip will be installed directly behind the granite curb line, replacing existing brick pavers.

Additional tree well reconstruction and Flexi-pave will be undertaken at approximately 20 locations along Main St., between Bank St. and Conroy Dr. The remaining section on the south side, from Conroy to Broadway, will be done at developer expense after the construction of the hotel/retail complex that is underway now is complete next year.

The project will again consist of tree well masonry reconstruction with the application of Flexi-pave. The tree well reconstruction and Flexi-pave project is expected to begin in the fall.