WESTWOOD, N.J.—Trumpeting that rain, sleet, or snow wouldn’t stop Westwood’s Shade Tree Advisory Committee from planting its 200th red maple, outside Borough Hall on Saturday, April 12, the committee celebrated its partnership with the Westwood Volunteer Ambulance Corps—whose members also know a fair bit about getting the job done, come what may.
The effort was part of the Third Annual Arbor Fest, a monthlong series pairing weekly tree plantings with tributes to the borough’s volunteer boards and committees. Saturday’s planting honored WVAC and featured blood pressure screenings, a touch-a-truck ambulance tour, and free community seedlings provided by Bartlett Tree Experts.
WVAC Captain Rush Sherman and his crew welcomed residents despite the wet and frosty weather. “It was great to partner with the Shade Tree Committee on something positive and lasting,” Sherman said. “We’re proud to be part of it.”
The 200th red maple milestone came just days before another—a pin oak planting at Richard F. Nugent Park on April 14, made possible by Columbia Bank, which is planting 50 trees across New Jersey in honor of Arbor Day. With the new oak, Westwood’s inventory now includes 134 pin oaks, making them the borough’s third most common tree after red maples (200-plus) and Norway maples (141).
Committee chair Dan Zambrano praised the effort. “It’s great to see a Westwood business dig in and get their hands dirty for the entire month of April,” he said.
He also highlighted the symbolic power of Arbor Fest’s partnerships: “We wanted to highlight the ways our volunteer groups serve the community—and show that anyone can make Westwood a little greener, one tree at a time.”
He said Downes Tree Service installed the oak with Columbia Bank employees, and called out Tony Pallogudis from the Westwood branch. He noted Drew Yocum is the facilities officer, based in Fair Lawn, who coordinates all of the tree plantings.
Arbor Fest continues every Saturday in April:
- April 19 at 8:30 a.m., DPW Recycling Center: Tree planting with the Westwood Environmental Advisory Committee, followed by an Earth Day litter clean-up at Westvale Park.
- April 26 at 9:30 a.m., Westwood Public Library: Meet new Library Director Catherine DiLeo, followed by a free plant swap at 10 a.m. hosted by the Westwood Garden Club.
For our writeup on the April 5 outing, at the town’s Fairview parking lot, with the DPW and Westwood Parking Utility, see “Rooting for the future: Westwood picks up timely signs amid Arbor Fest” by John Snyder, April 7, 2025.)
Seedlings are available free at each event, first-come, first-served. Residents may also request a curbside tree using the borough’s online form.
Adding to the month’s celebrations, the Shade Tree Advisory Committee recently earned Westwood’s first Tree City USA Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation. The honor, granted alongside the borough’s annual Tree City USA designation, recognizes higher levels of tree care, education, and civic engagement.
The borough has now planted commemorative trees at each major park for four consecutive years:
- Eastern redbud at Gritman Pond (2022)
- Red maple at McKinley Park (2023)
- Littleleaf linden at Hegeman Park (2024)
- Pin oak at Nugent Park (2025)
As of this month, the Shade Tree Advisory Committee has completed 70% of a borough-wide tree inventory. More than 1,400 trees have been surveyed, along with nearly 1,200 vacant planting sites. The current canopy is rated 48% good, 41% fair, and 11% poor—generally with a five-year life expectancy.
Mayor Ray Arroyo applauded the work. “Trees and parking might seem unrelated, but both are essential local infrastructure—and both are under pressure,” Arroyo posted. “Seeing real investment and hands-on care for our canopy is a win for everyone.”
Westwood’s largest measured tree is a 75-inch-diameter pin oak on Palisade Avenue, surpassing even the beloved “Kissing Tree,” a 58-inch European beech in Veterans Park.
For more information visit westwoodnj.gov or connect with the committee on Facebook.