Submitted photos DEC foresters inspected trees, planted in November 2025 when the snow cleared, in April with city staff. From left are Vince DeJoy, Troy Ignaszak, Justin Kindt, Nate Morey.

The city of Dunkirk celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by planting eight Redbud trees on Washington Avenue. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has awarded an Urban Community Forestry grant to plant up to 400 new trees on city rights of way, on the terraces between sidewalks and roadways.

The city, with the help from Greener Gardens of Dunkirk, planted 95 trees last fall in November in the Washington Park area and on other streets that were approved by DEC last fall.

DEC foresters Nate Morey and Justin Kindt returned to Dunkirk earlier this month to inspect the trees planted last fall, and thankfully, all of the new trees survived the winter months.

A student from SUNY Fredonia has also been working as an intern for the city of Dunkirk, paid by the Urban Community Forestry Grant to coordinate the planting. Troy Ignaszak, a senior, used his computer and mapping skills to input all of the new trees into the Treekeeper database platform.

“The Treekeeper software has been instrumental in managing the city’s urban forest, and the new trees planted will help beautify the city of Dunkirk for many years to come,” said Ignaszak.

“Troy has been an amazing intern and we are happy to have had him working with us,” said Vince DeJoy, Dunkirk’s Director of Planning and Development. “Troy took charge of the program and has set up the next intern for success, when he graduates in May.”

The next planting of 100 new trees is in the planning process for spring of this year, and residents in targeted areas will see door hangers at their homes with a QR code to respond to a survey. The Dunkirk Department of Development asks residents to respond by QR code, call, or email requests for trees in front of their homes. The phone number is 716-366-9886, or email Dunkirktrees@gmail.com.