The Truth About Ridgewood’s Tree-Watering Program: What Residents Need to Know
file photo
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, If you’ve walked through the Village of Ridgewood recently, you’ve likely noticed our beautiful new trees equipped with green “gator bags” at their bases. These trees represent a major investment in reestablishing our town’s lush green canopy.
However, following recent rumors and inaccurate information circulating online regarding the state of the Village tree-watering program, the Village Manager has released an official update to clear the air.
Here is exactly what is happening with Ridgewood’s trees, why the watering schedule adjusted, and how you can help this weekend.
Why Is There a Temporary Pause in Contracted Watering?
To ensure the long-term success of our urban forest, Ridgewood established a program in 2023 to contract professional watering services for all new trees for a period of two years post-planting.
This year’s standard public bidding process hit a legal speed bump:
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The Issue: The initial contractor bids for the tree-watering project came in higher than the allocated municipal budget.
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The Legal Requirement: By law, when bids exceed a municipality’s budget, the town must reject all bids and restart the process.
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The Timeline: New contract bids are due this Monday, June 8th. The Village Council is scheduled to officially award the contract on Wednesday, June 10th, with an immediate start date locked in for the winning contractor.
How the Village is Protecting Trees Right Now
Rest assured, our new trees are not being abandoned. The Village Parks Division has been actively monitoring local tree health and manually addressing vulnerable trees as needed during this brief interim period.
Mother Nature has also been lending a helping hand. Ridgewood experienced significant rainfall over the Memorial Day weekend, and additional rain is forecasted to keep the soil hydrated.
How Ridgewood Residents Can Help (Gator Bag Update)
Do you have a newly planted Village tree on or near your property? You can play a direct role in keeping Ridgewood green over the next few days.
While the Parks Division continues its monitoring, the Village is welcoming community assistance:
Community Notice: Should any property owner wish to add water to the gator bag affixed to the bottom of a Village tree, you are highly encouraged and free to do so until the official contractor takes over next week.
Ridgewood remains fully committed to ensuring the health, vibrancy, and longevity of our newly planted tree canopy. A little neighborly care this weekend will ensure they continue to thrive for decades to come!
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If the village planted a tree on my property they wouldn’t have to hire a contractor to water it.