PHOTOS: Officials Mark Start of the Planting of 370 Trees along Post Road in Greenwich

Earlier this week Greenwich Planning & Zoning Dept announced the town’s plans to move ahead with its vision of a tree-lined boulevard along the entire stretch of Route 1, from the New York state line to Stamford.

On Friday officials gathered in front of 600 E Putnam Ave to commemorate the occasion with both golden shovels and a giant pair of scissors for a ribbon cutting.

The project was years in the making and was finalized last week when the CT Dept ff Transportation approved an encroachment permit.

Greenwich town planner Patrick LaRow described the process as a lengthy and rewarding journey.

“The post road is our major east-west thoroughfare and both our gateway and introduction to town,” he said.

Pointing to newly planted trees in front of 600 E Putnam Ave, LaRow said, “This is just our first step.”

LaRow thanked the Greenwich Tree Conservancy for funding the trees and C Lorenti Landscaping for planting them. He also thanked The Greenscape Committee – specifically Richard Hein, John Conte, Nick Macri, JoAnn Messina and Dr. Greg Kramer. Additionally, he thanked Conservation Resource Manager Sarah Coccaro, Jackie Pruitt, Bianca Dygert, and Dan Clark in P&Z and P&Z commission chair Margarita Alban, assistant town attorney Aamina Ahmad, town risk manager Megan Damato, RTM moderator Alexis Voulgaris, and from DPW Jim Michel and Michael Kiselak, and the DOT who approved the work.

Members of the Greenwich Tree Conservancy were on hand including past executive director JoAnn Messina, board president Urling Searle, Cheryl Dunson and current director Kate Dzikiewicz.

GTC members said they were honored to gift the trees as well as their planting to the Town for the important project.

“The GTC is most grateful to all of our supporters whose generosity makes this possible,” the GTC said in a statement. “This is a successful public-private partnership that will add beauty and many benefits to all who travel along Route 1 in the years ahead.”

Fred Camillo said the project had actually been in the works for almost 5 years.

“Any time you’re dealing with different levels of government, it takes a little bit longer,” he said. “But this is something we’re very proud of. This is something we’re very proud of. When you get off the highway, one of the first roads you’re on is the Post Road. We want this to be a very welcoming beautiful site.”

See also:

In Greenwich, Tree Lined Gateway to New England Takes Root