WESTWOOD, N.J.—The Westwood Shade Tree Advisory Committee invites residents to dig in and celebrate the environment during its Third Annual Arbor Fest, held every Saturday in April at locations throughout the borough.
This year’s theme pairs tree plantings with tributes to Westwood’s volunteer boards and committees, highlighting their contributions to the community while encouraging residents to help green the borough—one tree at a time.
Meanwhile, the Westwood Shade Tree Advisory Committee has earned its first-ever Tree City USA Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation, marking a new milestone in the borough’s ongoing commitment to community forestry.
Each Saturday’s event — free tree seedlings, courtesy of Bartlett Tree Experts, will be available at each event on a first-come, first-served basis — includes a tree planting and a special activity, co-hosted by a partner organization:
- April 5 at 10 a.m. – Fairview Avenue Municipal Lot. Power Up at the Charging Stations with Coffee & Cookies. Event Partner: Westwood Parking Advisory Board with the Westwood Parking Utility.
- April 12 at 10 a.m. – Westwood Borough Hall. Touch a Truck (Ambulance) & Blood Pressure Screening. Event Partner: Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps.
- April 19 at 8:30 a.m. – DPW Recycling Center. Earth Day Litter Clean-Up at Westvale Park follows planting. Event Partner: Westwood Environmental Advisory Committee. (Supported by the Bergen County Clean Communities Mini Grant Program.)
- April 26 at 9:30 a.m. – Westwood Public Library. Meet New Library Director Catherine DiLeo. Westwood Garden Club Free Plant Swap Follows at 10 a.m. Event Partner: Westwood Free Public Library.
Can’t make it to an event? Request a free curbside shade tree via the borough’s online form.
First Growth Award
The Tree City USA Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation, received alongside the borough’s annual Tree City USA designation, recognizes higher levels of tree care, education, and civic engagement. According to the application, Westwood earned 13 points across four qualifying categories: a budget increase for tree-related activities, continuing education efforts, involvement with local service organizations, and the hosting of a community tree festival.
Committee members Dan Zambrano and Fred Rella, now serving as secretary, worked together to prepare and submit the application. “This is a first for us,” Zambrano tells Pascack Press. “It reflects the growth of our committee, governing body, partner volunteer organizations, and residents who enthusiastically participated in our tree planting festivals and promotional events over the past three years.”
For more on Westwood’s Tree City efforts, visit arborday.org or contact the Shade Tree Advisory Committee through Borough Hall, westwoodnj.gov.