VENTNOR – The city’s new street tree management program is in full swing with the fall planting of 22 new street trees and installing 12 new planters cut into sidewalks along Ventnor Avenue.
PROVIDED/From left, Ventnor Commissioner Lance Landgraf, Ventnor Green Team members Steve Jasiecki, Lee Widman, Mayor Tim Kriebel, Commissioner Maria Mento and green team Chairwoman Dianne Birkbeck.The Ventnor Green Team assisted with the program, which included an internet based street tree inventory. The project was funded with a $20,000 NJ Urban and Community Forestry grant with a $5,000 cash match from the city.
A team of arborists from Davey Resource Group walked neighborhoods noting the location, species and condition of trees, and compiled the information in an online database called TreeKeeper.
According to Davey Resource Group, arborists inventoried 1,888 sites consisting of 1,669 trees, 22 stumps and 202 vacant planting sites. Of the trees inventoried, 32 are moderate risk trees, which may require pruning. However, there were no high-risk trees identified. In addition to trees planted along rights-of-way, arborists inspected trees in several parks, including Ski Beach, Titus Field, Lily Park and New Haven Avenue Park.
The project also includes updating the city’s Community Forestry Management Plan, which is due to expire at the end of 2025. Having an updated plan will allow the city to create new goals for assessing the health of the urban canopy and planting new trees over the next four years.
Bayview Garden Nurseries LLC was selected to plant new trees in two business districts – the “Theater District” between Nashville and Victoria avenues and the “Dunkin’ District” between Avolyn and Portland avenues. Bayview installed 10 new trees, along with 11 ground cover plantings, and constructed seven new planting sites in sidewalks, complete with Belgian block outlines in the Theater District; and 12 new trees, 21 groundcover plantings and five new planting sites in the Dunkin’ District. Each newly planted tree has its own “gator bag,” which will make it easy to provide the 20 gallons of water needed per week to ensure they survive during the growing season and under the hot summer sun.
In addition to beautifying the business districts, street trees will help reduce flooding and energy consumption, buffer noise and provide shade for pedestrians. Statistics show that street trees also stimulate economic development, increasing shopping about 12%.
In keeping with Urban and Community Forestry recommendations, the city selected native species including red maples, willow oaks, serviceberries and Eastern red cedars. Native vegetation planted around the trees include tickseed, beachgrass and purple lovegrass.
According to Administrator Tom Ciccarone, the management plan will include recommendations for future street tree maintenance and plantings, and help the city apply for Urban and Community Forestry grants in the future.
“This project is more than just planting trees,” Mayor Tim Kriebel said. “It’s an investment in sustainable, green infrastructure for our community.”
Kriebel said adding trees, native grasses and decorative plants would provide a positive impression of the city for residents and visitors.
“These little enhancements will bring a sense of pride and ownership to our community for years to come,” he said.
Copyright Fideri News Network 2025
