Morristown proclaims Arbor Day; Shade Tree Commission outlines tree plantings, school grant work

Mayor Timothy P. Dougherty read a proclamation on April 8 declaring April 25, 2025, as Arbor Day in the Town of Morristown and urged citizens to support tree-planting and protection efforts.

Kristen Ace, representing the Morristown Shade Tree Commission, told the council the commission will plant a series of trees donated by community partners: 10 trees donated through the New Jersey Tree Foundation and Formosa Plastics for Speedwell Park, 10 trees donated by Ben Lieberman for Elliott Park (a project tied to his bar mitzvah), and three trees donated by the Williamson family to commemorate David Franklin Williamson IV near the Bud Street basketball courts. Ace said the commission is coordinating with local schools under a Sustainable Jersey grant that could enable planting up to about 400 trees at Alexander Hamilton, Sussex and Thomas Jefferson schools.

Ace described planned Arbor Day celebration activities scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 26 at Bud Street Park, including a scavenger hunt, yoga, informational tables on suicide awareness and depression (connected to the Williamson family donation), and community volunteers. She thanked town staff — including DPW and engineering staff — for logistical support and noted that the Shade Tree Commission works closely with town departments on tree-planting and care.

Mayor Dougherty and council members praised the commission’s efforts and noted additional riverbank and cleanup events in late April tied to the Whippany River Coalition and Speedwell Lake neighborhood efforts.

No regulatory changes or funding votes were taken at the meeting; the proclamation and the event announcements were informational and ceremonial.