NORWALK. Conn. — After more than two decades of meetings, the Norwalk Tree Advisory Committee met for the final time on October 28. Pending a Common Council vote, the council will dissolve the committee and reconstitute it as the Urban Forestry Commission in 2026. A similar move dismissed the temporary Bike/Walk Task Force to establish the Bike/Walk Commission in 2017.
Committee members gave updates on a busy fall planting season. Arborist Sarah Cruz confirmed that the TAC ordered 250 trees for fall planting, a substantial turnaround from an underwhelming spring season in which the committee ordered just 50 trees. Cruz noted that 250 trees in one season is “a lot,” and was made possible by additional seasonal staff who helped narrow down potential sites and sort through a backlog of planting requests. Cruz tied this new capacity to the record $200,000 Department of Public Works capital allocation for tree planting in FY 2025, double the amount from the prior year.
One issue that can delay the installation of new trees is disagreement over where they should go. In selecting installation sites, the TAC considers existing canopy coverage, space constraints such as overhead wires and narrow strips, and safety concerns like sight lines for drivers and pedestrians. “We do take a lot of care in making sure that our species are matched to the planting space…and in maintaining sight lines and avoiding conflicts with signs or utilities,” Cruz said.
The committee prioritizes sites with low canopy coverage, while avoiding locations that conflict with utilities or traffic safety. Residents of Marvin Beach, meanwhile, have pushed back against some tree plantings. “A major concern was waterfront views and how that would affect property values as well,” Cruz said, noting that the city cut the original list of 50 potential sites in the area down to just six.
A persistent concern is survivability among planted trees. Tree survival rates fell below expectations this year, owing to inconsistent contractor watering and drought conditions. Residents have also expressed confusion about tree care.
“It’s not just planting the tree, it’s making sure it survives,” committee member Gay MacLeod said. According to MacLeod, the number one question from residents is “who’s gonna water the tree?” While Vice Chair Richard Whitehead said “rarely do we see anyone overwater a tree,” MacLeod cited an incident in which a resident poured 12 gallons on a new tree in a single sitting, leaving it in poor condition.
Potential solutions include gator bags that provide slow-release watering and a brochure to educate residents about proper care and species selection. Committee members suggested the brochure could cover how many minutes to water with a hose, how to mulch correctly, and the value of native species.
Towards the end of the meeting, landscape architect Jeff Scheer, a representative of the Norwalk Tree Alliance, briefed the committee on other tree planting efforts throughout the city. Scheer reported that the NTA planted 373 trees in 2025, a record for the nonprofit. Together with the NTA, as well as the Department of Public Works, the Recreation and Parks Department, the Norwalk River Watershed Association, the Norwalk Land Trust, and other stakeholders, the Tree Advisory Committee is working to implement the Common Council’s Tree Master Plan. The 30-year plan aims to increase canopy coverage from 43% to 53% by 2053, requiring an estimated 64,000 new trees.
Members closed the meeting with some reflection on the committee’s history. Cruz recalled her early days in Norwalk and her excitement at discovering the TAC. “A whole committee about trees?” she recollected. “Cool.”
A representative distributed letters from the mayor thanking members for their service. In the letters, Mayor Harry Rilling recognized the committee’s 23 years of work since 2002, highlighting 2,500 successful plantings, annual Arbor Day festivals, tree cleanups, and the creation of the city’s first comprehensive tree management plan.
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