Community Forestry Management Plan aims to expand canopy and manage risk; ‘Capture the Love (Again)’ event returns to the Kissing Tree
A new plan for street and park trees
The Borough of Westwood has adopted a new five-year Community Forestry Management Plan aimed at expanding its street and park tree canopy, sharpening maintenance practices, and reducing public-safety and liability risks associated with aging or hazardous trees.
Who prepared the plan and what it covers
The 2026–2030 plan, prepared for the borough by consulting arborist Liz Stewart, a New Jersey Licensed Tree Expert, outlines policies and priorities for managing public shade trees and coordinating work among the Department of Public Works, borough administration, the Shade Tree Advisory Committee, and other partners. Westwood has maintained a formal community forestry plan since 1999.
The plan was approved by the New Jersey Urban and Community Forestry Program and the New Jersey Community Forestry Council, with a certificate dated Jan. 26, 2026, from the state forester. It is the borough’s third five-year plan and builds on earlier efforts including the 2008–2012 Community Forestry Management Plan.
The data behind it: Westwood’s 2024 tree inventory
A major foundation for the new plan is Westwood’s 2024 street-tree inventory, compiled using a GIS-based system. The inventory identifies 2,658 street trees and 2,143 vacant planting sites, placing street-tree stocking at 44.9%. The plan estimates the total replacement value of inventoried street trees at approximately $7.7 million.
According to the plan, the inventory data are being used to prioritize maintenance and guide future planting, while also quantifying environmental benefits such as stormwater interception and carbon sequestration. Overall, 53% of inventoried trees are rated in “good” condition and 38% “fair,” with trees rated “poor” or “dead” addressed promptly by DPW. Roughly half of the borough’s tree population is relatively young and would benefit from structured pruning and training as trees mature.
Key goals for 2026–2030
Among the new goals for 2026–2030 are increasing planting targets to at least 100 trees per year; hiring seasonal help to water newly planted trees; expanding training opportunities for DPW’s tree crew; launching an emerald ash borer inspection and removal program; and exploring a heritage-tree ordinance to recognize notable trees standing on public and private property.
Ongoing challenges: sidewalks, utilities, space, flooding
The plan also identifies persistent local challenges, including conflicts between trees, sidewalks, overhead utility lines; limited planting space in the downtown business district; and recurring flooding in parts of town.
Proposed strategies include careful species selection, modified sidewalk designs, planting outside narrow curbside strips where feasible, and pairing tree planting with rain gardens and other stormwater infrastructure.
The Kissing Tree: landmark and risk-management case study
That balance between preservation, public safety and long-term stewardship is embodied by one of Westwood’s most recognizable natural landmarks. In January 2025, the borough’s storied “Kissing Tree” — an enormous European beech in Veterans Park — was formally recognized as a Champion and Heritage Tree by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. The designation made it the first tree in Westwood to appear on the state’s Big and Heritage Tree map, reflecting both its size — the largest European beech of its kind in New Jersey — and its deep cultural history as a longstanding community landmark.
At the same time, officials have continued to closely monitor the Kissing Tree’s condition after it was diagnosed last year with brittle cinder fungus, an incurable disease that can compromise structural stability. The juxtaposition of celebration and careful risk management mirrors the approach outlined in the borough’s new forestry plan.
Community engagement: “Capture the Love (Again)”
Public engagement remains a central element of that strategy. This year, the Shade Tree Advisory Committee hosted its sophomore “Capture the Love (Again) Under the Kissing Tree” Valentine’s Day mini photo session. All available RSVP slots filled in less than 24 hours.
Westwood is a Tree City USA community and a Sustainable Jersey Bronze Certified municipality, with a Tree City USA Growth Award listed for 2024. The Community Forestry Management Plan includes related ordinances and background materials, including tree removal and replacement requirements, and will guide borough forestry practices through 2030.