The Town of New Castle Conservation Board & Recreation and Parks Commission jointly hosted a “Trees for Tribs” planting event on Saturday November 5, 2022 at Jean Craighead George Park (JCGP)
Our town was fortunate to receive 210 native trees and shrubs as part of a grant from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Trees for Tribs Program. The purpose of this statewide program is to reforest New York's tributaries in an effort to decrease erosion, reduce flood damage, improve wildlife and stream habitat, and most importantly, protect water quality. Protecting the water quality of our streams and tributaries also protects our drinking water.
Simultaneously, New Castle also cleared the final hurdle and fulfilled their The National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge 2022 application commitment. The Pledge Action Items New Castle committed to by submitting their application in April, were completed throughout the Town over spring, summer and fall. The National Wildlife Federation reviewed and approved New Castle’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge summary report and supporting documentation on 11/22/22.
The DEC grant required the town to have community members involved and 17 people joined in, including the daughter of Jean Craighead George (Twig George). All in all, there were over 40 hours of work by community members (thanks to Kent Thomas for his great photos)! Special thanks to Recreation and Parks member Jennifer Bounds whose vision for JCGP’s native plant restoration began two years ago as she led over that span, numerous community inspired invasive species removal events that facilitated grant approval and made actual planting feasible. Thank you New Castle Environmental Coordinator, Dennis Corelli, for managing this project, and the extra hours on Friday and Saturday to facilitate successful planting operation.
Many installed plants are hydrophytic (wetland) species; which should be adapted JCGP conditions as it’s also a NYSDEC Freshwater Wetland.
