Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy honors Arbor Day with community tree care & unique species planting

Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy Press Release

In celebration of Arbor Day, the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy (BOPC) will partner with the New York State Arborists Association to host an Arbor Day of Service in Delaware Park on Saturday, April 26.

From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., residents and parkgoers may notice crews performing a variety of tree maintenance tasks, including hazardous tree removal, canopy cleaning, elevations, and stump grinding – all of which will improve overall tree health and safety of parkgoers. The BOPC advises all visitors to maintain a respectful distance from work zones to ensure the safety of all parkgoers.

“It’s powerful to see companies who are typically competitors come together with a common goal of keeping the parks safe for the community,” BOPC Forestry Manager Mike Sawyer said. “Their generosity strengthens the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted’s design and the health of our parks.”

This year’s participating tree care companies include AJ’s Tree Service, Altec, Bartlett Tree Experts, Baschmann Services, Bradley Tree and Landscaping, Draves Tree & Landscape, Evergreen of Western New York, Kravitz Tree Service, Tree Care Nation, and Rose Forestry, all of which donate their time, equipment and expertise.

In addition to vital maintenance work, the BOPC is advancing its ecological restoration efforts with a donation from Schichtel’s Nursery Oregon to plant a half-dozen unique tree species this spring. Following one of the toughest winters in recent memory, the effort marks a meaningful step forward in the biodiversity and preservation of this historic urban green space.

“At a time when resources are stretched and funding challenges persist, it’s remarkable to have local tree care companies volunteering their time and talent in Delaware Park, and to have a dynamic partner like Andy Schichtel, whose work brings Frederick Law Olmsted’s vision full circle to the South Park Arboretum,” said Margaret Lapp, BOPC’s director of planning and curation. “The donated Bur Oak originated from an ‘Olmsted Original’ that dates back 130 years, while the donated Kentucky Coffee Tree is from a specimen that Andy’s father, George V. Schichtel, donated and planted in the Delaware S-Curves years ago.”

The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy invites the public to celebrate Arbor Day not just in spirit, but through action, by supporting efforts that sustain and restore Buffalo’s historic green spaces. While this spring’s unique tree planting in South Park Arboretum is a meaningful step forward, the BOPC’s broader tree planting program remains on pause due to funding limitations. To resume planting at scale, dedicated resources are needed to support critical follow-up care, including a full-time watering staff.

Whether through volunteering, advocacy, or making a donation, every contribution helps preserve and grow the legacy of Buffalo’s Olmsted parks. To learn more or get involved, visit www.bfloparks.org/donate.