Looking For Residents Who’d Like To Have The Village Plant A New Tree Along Their Street
By Bill Fredericks
Oct. 6, 2026: Letters were mailed last week under the signature of Mayor Marvin -- on behalf of all Village Trustees -- to 240 property owners to encourage them to apply to have a tree planted along the street in front of their property.
Properties were identified to receive these letters by a team of volunteers, including Green Committee chair Ellen Edwards and Bronxville Historical Conservancy members Jack Bierwith, Peggy Conway, Bill Fredericks, Marilyn Hill, Saskia Martin, James Purdy, and Mayor Emerita Nancy Hand.
The volunteers’ intent was to identify properties where there were gaps in the existing tree-canopy along streets where the Village owns the first ten feet of land (the “Right of Way,” or “R-O-W”) that are inside the curbline. When Bronxville was developed, many of its streets were lined with canopy trees that were planted in the Village’s “R-O-Ws” – but a significant number of those trees have since been lost to age or storms without being replaced.
There are two ways that residents can participate in the program. First, residents can apply to plant a new native canopy tree in the R-O-W along their property, with the Village splitting the cost 50/50. Second, residents who are interested in planting a “R-O-W” tree, but without having to contribute towards the cost, can sign up to be put on a list to have a younger (and smaller) native tree installed entirely at the Village’s expense.
All tree applications will be subject to final review, site inspection and approval by the Village, and are subject to available funding. Priority will go to those who apply by October 9. Full details are available at the Village website, www.villageofbronxville.gov/517/ROW-Tree-Planting-Program, or by contacting Ass’t Village Administrator Thomas Morzello at 914-337-6500 or at
The Village and the Bronxville Historical Conservancy have each contributed $75,000 towards a $150,000 “Tree Fund” to support this initiative.
The Conservancy’s co-chair, Suzanne Davis, noted that “The Bronxville Historical Conservancy feels strongly that maintaining and renewing the Village’s native tree canopy is a critical aspect of preserving Bronxville’s character. We are very pleased to be able to partner with Village Hall on this important project.”
Mayor Marvin adds: “As we celebrate the Nation’s 250th birthday, my fellow trustees and I can think of no better way to contribute to our Village’s future than to plant a tree. If you’ve enjoyed a summer walk through our streets, we don’t need to tell you the difference between walking down a shaded street and one that’s mostly exposed to a blazing sun!”
Not every property has been identified as a “prime location” for a new R-O-W tree, and preference will typically be given to sites that are not located immediately under existing utility wires. However, all residents are welcome to apply (see the website above for more information) if they think they have room for a R-O-W tree.
For a village with streets bearing so many arboreally-themed names – including Red Oak, Elm Rock, Hemlock, Hawthorne and Beechwood Roads; Locust, Beechtree, Elm, Forest, Grove, Edgewood and Wood End Lanes; and the hilltop’s Chestnut Avenue – it would be hard to deny that trees have always been an integral (even if sometimes taken-too-much-for-granted) part of Bronxville.
For apartment dwellers who would like a tree planted in an adjacent Village-owned R-O-W, they can also contact Village Hall, although planting details may also need to be worked out with relevant building management or association to work out details.
Ass’t Village Administrator Thomas Morzello sums things up as follows: “The idea of planting more neighborhood trees has been very well received, and our goal is to plant as many as possible this fall. I encourage all interested residents to contact me ASAP so I can finalize additional tree orders before the fall planting season ends.”
