Central Park Restoration

The restoration work in the Central Park woods is a project in partnership with the City of Schenectady to support ecological health in the woods. We consulted with the NYSDEC regional forester and Capital Region Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) to plan the work. ReTree Schenectady received a grant from CR-PRISM in 2026 to support three volunteer Conservation Days, a botanical survey of the wooded areas in Central Park, mapping of invasive species, and public outreach. The project was contracted by Capital Region PRISM using funds from the Environmental Protection Fund as administered by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.

Burning bush (Euonymus alatus) outcompetes native shrubs and displaces native herbaceous plants in the forest understory. It is a NYSDEC-regulated species. The 2014 NYSDEC Invasive Plants guidance states: “Regulated invasive species, on the other hand, are species which cannot be knowingly introduced into a free-living state, or introduced by a means that one should have known would lead to such an introduction, although such species shall be legal to possess, sell, buy, propagate and transport.”

Norway maple (Acer platanoides) forms dense shade, outcompeting and killing native understory species and tree seedlings so the forest cannot reestablish itself. Like burning bush, Norway maple is a NYSDEC-regulated species. The section of Tennis Court woods near the disc golf kiosk is mostly Norway maple and has few understory plants.

The pile contains burning bush and small Norway maple that were removed on Conservation Days in May, June, and July 2026. The City Parks Department will be chipping the brush and returning the chips to the forest floor. Some brush will remain along trails to protect the woods during restoration.

This patch of woods has some aging trees that have been falling during wind and storm events. The City will clear the paths eventually. Fallen logs, sometimes called nurse logs, provide habitat for moss and fungi, and they help nurture the next generation of seedlings.

We are protecting one of the most diverse natural areas in the park. The woods are dominated by large oaks and pines, and there are many native shrubs and wildflower species in the understory. Many insects and the birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians that eat them are dependent upon the native plants and fungi that grow here. The non-native plants do not provide food sources for these organisms and disrupt the food chain that supports this native biodiversity. For example, oak trees support the largest number of caterpillars of any of the trees in North America and the caterpillars are used by songbirds to feed their young. The caterpillars also have a chemical in them that protects birds from ticks.

The botanist has so far identified 181plant species including 33 tree species. Trees of interest include Eastern white pine, yellow birch, butternut, red, black, and white oak, and American chestnut.

The tape is to identify trees and shrubs that we’ve planted for restoration. The pink flagged trees and shrubs were planted on our May 2026 Conservation Day. The blue flagged little oak trees were planted in October 2025 by the Tree Committee of the Cornell Cooperative Extensions Schenectady County Master Gardeners.

We are planting native understory trees, shrubs, and herbaceous species that have been observed in the woods already. The trees and shrubs include white oak, red oak, American chestnut, serviceberry, black chokecherry, Eastern white pine, elderberry, maple leaf viburnum, and witch hazel. Most were obtained from the NYS Tree Nursery in Saratoga Springs. Most of the herbaceous species were grown from seed collected in Schenectady County and include heart-leaved aster, white wood aster, white snakeroot, and blue-stemmed goldenrod.

The Tennis Court woods are enjoyed by many people and they are ecologically diverse but increasingly impacted by invasive species. These woods present a great opportunity to showcase restoration efforts in Central Park and build momentum for future work in other areas.

The City of Schenectady is applying for a Community Reforestation grant from NYSDEC. If awarded, it would fund restoration work including tree planting and invasive species removal. Our 2026 conservation work will feed into this future work.

Additional partners for the conservation work are ECOS, the Schoharie River Center, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Schenectady County, the Upper Union Neighborhood Association, and the Schenectady County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Send an email to retreeschenectady@gmail.com and we’ll be in touch.