Actually, several will, thanks to a state agency and a local business.
The town is set to receive 13 tulip trees from the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC) in commemoration of Arbor Day, an international environmental effort that encourages communities to plant trees.
Tulip trees are different from the tulips that grow in the ground, but their flowers look similar, hence the name. The other 13 towns in the NJMC's jurisdiction are also slated to receive saplings of this fast-growing tree, famous for its huge flowers and the expansive shade it provides when mature.
Ashley Furniture Home Store, located at 925 Paterson Plank Road, also donated several trees to the town in a special ceremony held on April 18.
All of the donated trees will be planed in public sites throughout the town.
Plant and they will come
This year marks the NJMC's sixth observance of Arbor Day, which was first celebrated more than 100 years ago in the Midwest.
J. Sterling Morton, a Detroit native and journalist who moved to the Nebraska Territory in 1854, first came up with the idea for Arbor Day. Something of a tree-hugger of his generation, Morton argued that few settlers would make the move west because there were too few trees.
According to the Arbor Day Foundation, Morton recognized that trees were needed to help keep soil in place and for log cabins, firewood, and shade. Without trees, settlers would face shortages on many basic necessities. To address the problem, Morton suggested in 1872 that the Nebraska Territory institute a holiday dedicated to planting trees.
The first official Arbor Day was celebrated two years later, on Morton's birthday, April 22. Within a few years it was celebrated nationally on or around that date.
Arbor Day and Earth Day
For a time, Arbor Day was somewhat overshadowed by its younger cousin, Earth Day, which is also celebrated on April 22. Earth Day, which began in the early '70s and is regarded as the start of the modern environmental movement, addresses broader concerns than tree planting.
But Arbor Day is starting to come back into its own. A number of cities and states now dub April 22 Earth Day/Arbor Day.
"We obviously believe Arbor Day is important because it improves beautification measures and quality of life throughout the Meadowlands District," said NJMC spokesperson Sheri Hensley. "It's just one of many sustainable programs we work on with the 14 towns we cover."
Secaucus goes green
Secaucus, for instance, been selected to participate in the NJMC's Municipal Solar Assistance Program, a new pilot initiative. The town is among four in the NJMC's jurisdiction to be selected for this pilot, with Kearny, Rutherford, and Carlstadt being the other three.
All 14 towns in the Meadowlands district, including Secaucus, will receive up to $20,000 to help purchase a municipal vehicle that's an environment-friendly hybrid.
These initiatives, announced on April 23, are part of the NJMC's broader Meadowlands district sustainability program.
Town complies with 'Tree City' designation
Secaucus has long understood the importance of so-called "urban forestry" programs - a term used to describe municipal efforts to plant and maintain trees in residential neighborhoods. A designated Arbor Day Foundation Tree City for the past 14 years, Secaucus has invested heavily in smart growth initiatives.
The town employs a tree conservation officer, required of all designated Tree Cities, and insists that Department of Public Works staffers have some forestry training.
Secaucus has a municipal forestry program, and the Town Council has passed several ordinances related to tree maintenance.
"Secaucus has made a substantial commitment to restoring its community forest," wrote Kerry Miller, researcher with the Association for New Jersey Environmental Commissions, in the organization's newsletter. "It gained 'Tree City' status in the early '90s, and later received the Tree City Growth Award for its innovative programs, including the Adopt-a-Block Tree Program and an Arbor Day/Earth Day celebration."
Miller goes on to note that most cities, unlike Secaucus, require homeowners to pick up the tab for repair work when tree roots on their properties buckle or crack sidewalks. This, Miller commented, "can turn owners against street trees."
Secaucus, by contrast, splits the sidewalk repair bill with homeowners. The town earmarks roughly $10,000 for tree-related sidewalk repair each year.
"This," in Miller's estimation, "is a small price to pay to insure that residents and trees will coexist peacefully and liability issues are addressed."
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