Girl Scouts Help Plant Trees At Huntington Station Park

HUNTINGTON STATION, NY — New trees were planted to help beautify a Huntington Station park.

Huntington Town Supervisor Chad A. Lupinacci, Councilman Ed Smyth and Councilwoman Joan Cergol were joined by Covanta and Girl Scout Service Unit 12, Troop 239 for an Arbor Day tree planting ceremony on April 30, according to a news release. Trees planted with Tree City USA grant funding were unveiled at Columbia Street Park.

"Thank you to Covanta Huntington for your environmentally-conscious donation and to our Girl Scouts from Troop 239 for your commitment to Columbia Street Park and many of our green spaces," Lupinacci said. "The Town of Huntington is fortunate to have maintained our Tree City USA designation for over 20 years and thanks to your contributions, grant funding from the New York State Urban Forestry Council, and our Volunteer Parks Stewards like Alvin White, we will continue to plant trees, beautify and preserve our open spaces."

Troop 239 Girl Scouts joined the ceremony to help plant the American Elm tree donated by Covanta to the Town of Huntington to commemorate Arbor Day. The Town Board accepted the donation at its April 13 meeting.

Participating in the Arbor Day ceremony were Girl Scout Cadettes Zahara Amorde, Julia Dean, Kate Sperduti, Lily Fleischer, Abbrianna Mandarino, Kate Adams, Morgan Franz, Ava Tulipano, and Allie Lynde, as well as Girl Scout Juniors Sophia Amorde, Nadia McKelvey, and Ava Rodriguez. The Scouts also helped plant additional bare-root saplings at the park. Troop Co-Leaders Gina Barone and Christine Reilly attended the event.

"It was a privilege and pleasure for Troop 239 to participate in the Town of Huntington Arbor day tree planting event," Girl Scout Troop Co-Leader Gina Barone said. "Girl Scouts have been passionate proponents of conservation throughout our organization's 100-plus year history and our troop strives to embody the value of environmental stewardship in our Huntington community. We are committed to continuing to live the Girl Scout law of 'using resources wisely' and protecting the Earth both globally and locally. Thank you for supporting our mission and for allowing us to be a part of such an inspiring program!"

Smyth called Columbia Park one of the "hidden gems" among the township.

"Our bigger parks get most of the attention, but it is worthwhile for our residents to explore the smaller parks that are often within walking distance of their homes," he said.

The event also celebrated grant funding that allowed additional trees to be planted at the park in late 2020. The Town of Huntington has maintained its designation as a Tree City USA for more than two decades.

In September 2020, the town applied for and received $1,000 in Tree City USA grant funding from the New York State Urban Forestry Council to plant five trees at Columbia Street Park. Overall, 12 trees were planted under the project, while seven of them were funded by an EOSPA-recommended match of $1,900.

Most of the trees were planted as street trees to provide shade and a welcoming park aesthetic in 2020 when an event could not be held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cergol thanked Covanta for donating the American Elm tree, as well as the Girl Scouts for planting additional saplings.

"Planting trees is one of the best things we can do for the Town’s natural beauty and for the environment, and I’m proud to serve a Town that has been designated a Tree City USA community for 20 years and running," she said.