New York State grants to help boost tree planting projects in Patchogue, Valley Stream

Visitors come to downtown Patchogue to shop, attend concerts and dine, but they may stay longer because of the 80 trees lining Main Street, Village Clerk Lori Devlin said.

“It just gives you a different feel," she said. "People feel good in the presence of trees — the green color, the cooling effect, the shade.”

But about half of the trees in the South Shore village's business district must be removed because of disease or because they block pedestrians on sidewalks, Devlin said.

By next year, she said, Patchogue officials hope to plant 40 new trees, moving some of them into new sidewalk planters.

The $150,000 project got a boost on April 26 when the village was awarded a $75,000 state Urban Forestry grant. The Village of Valley Stream also will receive a $75,000 grant to plant trees, state officials said.

Valley Stream officials did not respond to messages seeking comment.

State officials said 32 projects statewide will receive a total of more than $2.4 million in grants for tree planting and maintenance. New York City will receive $699,760 for seven tree projects in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx, officials said.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement the state aims to plant 25 million trees by 2033 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In Patchogue, Devlin said, healthy trees aren't just good for the environment — they're good for business. She cited research that shows people spend more money in leafy environments.

Studies by University of Washington research scientist Kathleen Wolf showed shoppers spent up to 12% more in downtowns with large trees. They also believed merchants were friendlier and products were of higher quality, the studies said.

“Because of their cooling effect, people are more likely to stay longer and spend more money,” Devlin said.

 A consultant hired by the village identified 32 trees, some 30 years old or more, that were in fair or poor condition and should be removed, Devlin said.

Many of those trees were diseased or posed hazards to pedestrians because their roots had lifted sections of village sidewalks, Devlin said.

The village plans to plant a mix of Chinese elms, hawthorns, ginkgos, hornbeams, hophornbeams, Japanese zelkovas, and parrotia persicas, also known as Persian ironwoods, Devlin said, adding all are considered to be species that can thrive in urban environments.

A total of about 40 trees will be removed this autumn and winter, and new trees will be planted next year, she said, adding some trees will be planted in new, ground-level pits designed to cause less sidewalk damage.

“It’s going to look a little barren for a little while," Devlin said, "but I think in the long term it will be the right thing.”

By Carl MacGowan

carl.macgowan@newsday.comCarlMacGowan

Carl MacGowan is a Long Island native who covers Brookhaven Town after having previously covered Smithtown, Suffolk County courts and numerous spot news and feature stories over his 20-plus year career at Newsday.