Town of Smithtown honored for Arbor Day

Smithtown loves its trees.

For the 25th year, the town has been designated a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. Smithtown met the group’s four criteria, including having a tree-care ordinance, holding an Arbor Day observance, establishing a group responsible for trees and developing a forestry program.

In Smithtown, trees are planted and replaced in the town’s neighborhoods, and an arborist does inspections for the Department of Environment and Waterways, Supervisor Patrick Vecchio said.

The nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation, based in Nebraska City, Neb., promotes the health and ecological benefits of planting and growing trees. More than 3,300 communities are recognized as "tree cities."