Mayor Wildes and his family planted the New Jersey State Tree, a Northern Red Oak, in Depot Square on Arbor Day last Friday, May 2, 2008. Mayor Wildes signed a proclamation urging all citizens “to plant and care for trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations”. Clyde Sweatt, Director of the Department of Public Works, facilitated the purchase of the tree and the event was sponsored by the Englewood Environmental Commission.

The tree was planted in honor of Eleanor Harvey: educator, historian, gardener, and champion of trees. In her memoirs, she tells how she put a jar on a tree stand in her classroom and children brought in pennies. Soon other schools joined in the effort as well as stores downtown. The Penny Tree Planting program funded trees that were planted at schools and in Depot Park . Ms. Harvey, now deceased, was the founder and long time president of the Englewood Historical Society. Norman Davis, president of the Historical Society, was a speaker.