Putting the Chestnut back in Chestnut Ridge Park

Friday is Arbor Day is a day that encourages community members and groups to plant trees and Western New York has done just that.
Fifty True American chestnut tree seedlings are now taking root in Orchard Park. The trees are resistant to a blight which previously wiped out thousands of trees in the park and across Western New York. 

Erie County Executive, Mark Poloncarz, along with Parks, Recreation and Forestry and community members are putting the meaning back into Chestnut Ridge Park.

"Well this park is one of the great crown jewels that we have here in Western New York," Poloncarz said.

For the 29th year, Buffalo has been recognized as Tree City USA
The Parks and Recreation Department says there are some 60,000 street trees in the City of Buffalo.

"Arbor day is just kind of a good time its right after earth day and its a time when people celebrate the parks that we have and trees that we have along the streets," Paul Maurer, Re-Tree WNY, said. 

The organization is committed to replace all the 57,000 trees destroyed in the 2006 October snow storm.