A Tree For Thee debuts information signs
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Dunkirk's A Tree For Thee project now has informational signs with facts about individual trees.
The signs contain maps of the nearly 200 trees, planted in 2024 and accompanied by memorial plaques. The rear of the signs describe each tree's honoree and donor, along with its scientific species. Every tree is numbered in the system.
"We finally got permission" for the signs, declared Mary Louise McGraw, A Tree For Thee's founder. "We've been trying for two years to get this done, but we finally got it done."
McGraw added, "The public should enjoy seeing the signs." She speculated that out-of-towners searching for individual trees could form a trend, similar to that seen with the city's Hero Banner Program.
There are two signs at Point Gratiot Park and one at Wright Park. The parks are home to the vast majority of the trees, though a few were placed on Dunkirk City School District properties.
The Point Gratiot signs are near the parking lot at the main entrance, and next to the driveway leading to the pavilion on the other side of the road. The Wright Park sign is close to the Beach House restaurant and bar.
Forevergreen Nursery of Springville provided the trees, and helped McGraw and volunteers plant them back in 2024.
McGraw felt the planting process was marred by obstructionist behavior from Dunkirk city officials, particularly Mayor Kate Wdowiasz. At one point, McGraw alleged that the city had pulled out dozens of stakes that were to mark A Tree For Thee sites.
Wdowiasz and other city officials held that they were simply trying to retain control over city park management. They also noted that city parks were slated to get dozens of trees under a state grant program, and were worried that A Tree For Thee might somehow jeopardize that.