New Rochelle officials and community partners gathered at Flower City Park on a crisp November morning to plant trees and formally present the city’s new Community Forest Management Plan, a data-driven effort officials said will expand canopy in areas with the greatest need.

Councilman Shane, serving as deputy mayor for the day, opened the event and introduced city staff and partners. “This event pulls together so many resources to honor our parks,” he said, framing the planting as “investing in the future tree by tree.”

Councilwoman Sarah Kaye, representing District 5, said the plan was developed with scientific data and public feedback and provides “a roadmap” to guide where and how the city plants to achieve the greatest public-health and environmental benefits. Kaye cited the city’s inventory of “nearly 19,000 public trees” and said the data showed which neighborhoods lack canopy and face higher heat and flooding risks. “At least 50% of all new city trees in New Rochelle will be planted in neighborhoods like this, where they’ll have the greatest impact for health, safety and resilience,” she said.

Deputy City Manager Todd Castaldo, speaking on behalf of City Manager Wilfredo Melendez, thanked city departments and advisory committees that contributed to the plan and noted the plan advances two pillars of the city manager’s 2025 work plan: resilient infrastructure and environmental sustainability and stewardship. Castaldo and others cited large-scale estimates of the urban forest’s benefits, saying New Rochelle’s trees deliver over $4,000,000 in environmental benefits each year and represent about $70,000,000 in structural value.

Commissioner of Development Adam Salgado tied the CFMP to the city’s climate work, saying it responds to the climate vulnerability assessment and the city’s 2025 green and climate action planning. Salgado said the urban forest stores about 9,000 tons of carbon annually and reduces stormwater runoff by more than 2,000,000 gallons each year. He noted canopy and its benefits are unevenly distributed and said surface temperatures can vary by as much as 30 degrees on hot days depending on tree cover — a reason the city will prioritize underserved and flood-prone areas for new plantings.

Officials described near-term commitments rather than formal votes: they said the city will plant “hundreds of trees each year” over the next decade, diversify species, and focus planting in priority equity zones to distribute benefits more equitably. The event also highlighted youth involvement: NRAC youth representatives from New Rochelle High School — including Caitlin Thomas, Carol Moran and Giselle Papahunda — spoke about the health and community benefits of urban trees and participated in the planting and a “tree by tree” pledge board.

City staff listed the agencies and partners involved in planning and implementation, including the Department of Public Works, Parks and Recreation, Development, Communications, Law, the Environmental and Natural Resources Advisory Committee, NRAC and several community organizations. Officials said resident survey responses from the Parkside neighborhood helped inform site selection and planting priorities.

The event was presented as a community engagement and implementation step for the CFMP rather than a formal legislative action; no city votes or ordinances were recorded at the event. Officials described next steps in rollout and continued plantings tied to the plan and the city’s broader climate goals.