John Rovente, Oxford Academy high school student, watering a "Cleveland Select" ornamental pear tree on Taylor Street. John is part of the Village's Summer Student Work Program. (Photo by Terry Stark)

OXFORD — The Village of Oxford has recently completed the planting of 116 street and park trees, out of a planned 175. The plantings are part of a village tree program supported by a $50,000 grant from the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). It includes the future development of an environmentally-friendly floodplain forest feature.

The DEC, along with a local certified arborist, have provided guidance in coordinating the tree plantings. Due to drought and excessive heat conditions, the planting of the remaining 59 trees has been delayed until late fall. The program, however, is continuing with a watering program now being undertaken by high school students as part of the village’s summer student work program.


Village Mayor Terry Stark stated that the remaining trees to be planted in the fall will be planted along the Chenango River, south of the village center, near the water treatment plant. These trees, such as river birch, sugar maple, and bur oak, will be flood tolerant and the first step in the village’s program to establish a floodplain forest.


Floodplain forests once covered wide stretches along rivers in New York, yet only a tiny fraction remain today. Many years ago, these forests were among the first to be cleared because their nutrient rich soil made very productive farmland.

Within the village, this forest area will begin to serve as an important wildlife corridor between habitats and it will reduce flooding and excessive siltation downstream. It will also eventually act as a focal point along a planned pedestrian trail system.


Mayor Stark also noted, “Healthy community forests provide watershed protection, increased property values, and improved public health. We are thankful the DEC is providing crucial assistance to help our village and state’s vital forests to thrive.”

The grants are part of DEC’s Division of Lands and Forests’ Urban and Community Forestry (UCF) Program. The program works to increase public awareness of the importance of trees and help communities develop and implement comprehensive tree management plans to create healthy forests while enhancing quality of life.

The UCF grants complement DEC’s ongoing initiatives to address invasive species, climate change, environmental degradation, environmental justice, and urban sprawl.

-Information provided by the Village of Oxford