A Little Beacon Blog reached out to the City of Beacon’s Tree Advisory Committee Chair, Andrew (Andy) Bell with the following question: “Has the Tree Advisory Committee made recommendations to Mayor Lee Kyriacou or past City Administrator Chris White or current City Administrator Ben Swanson about tree management solutions? Such as regularly pruning tree branches that look diseased or weak?”

On July 30th, a large tree branch fell onto Beekman Street; more branches fell two weeks later in Memorial Park, with more still after Sunday’s high-wind rain storm. Dead branches remain in several trees. In the video published below, the small tree branch that fell on the Memorial Park hill fell onto what looks like freshly mowed grass. Hope the Highway Department guy on the mower isn’t under more trees with actively falling branches. Usually the fall season means leaf foliage, but it’s looking like full branch coverage in Beacon.

Andy responded to ALBB that on August 11, 2026, the City of Beacon applied for a grant that if received, could lead to a management plan.

On Monday, Andy told ALBB: “The City has applied for a grant Urban and Community Forestry Tree Inventory - Round 17 UCF 2026 to do a tree inventory which will include a tree management plan. We submitted our application on 8/11 and hope to hear word later in the fall if we were successful in or bid.

“If so, and we're optimistic, this will give updated maps and information on approximately 2,800 trees in the public right of way throughout the city (street trees, park trees, etc.) and basic information on species, size, visual health assessment, canopy cover and other data. That will be used to create a management plan, including maintenance, new plantings, and removals when necessary. There will be a public outreach component as we build that plan and look forward to engaging with residents to let us know what they would like and any ideas they have for their street and park trees.”

That grant reads: “Project Types/ Practices Bids must be for one of the following practice types:

A) Traditional Street/ Landscaped Park Tree Inventory/Assessment;
B) Street Trees/ Landscaped Park tree inventory/assessment using ground based remote sensing (terrestrial LiDAR)
C) Forested Natural Areas Inventory/Assessment;
D) Community Forest Management Plan; or
E) a combined bid of a Community Forest Management Plan
D) and one of the inventory/assessment methods (A, B, or C).

“Bidders are allowed to apply for one inventory/assessment project and one management plan per application. Bidders are limited to one application. Each practice has different requirements as reflected in standards and specifications. Bidders should carefully review the practice information below, and the pass/fail eligibility criteria contained in the Guidelines to avoid disqualification.”

More Tree Grants

There is a different grant, Department of Environmental Conservation Urban and Community Forestry Program 2026 Community Reforestation (CoRe) Grant (Round 2). “That [one] focused on reforestation and not maintenance of individual trees,” Andy told ALBB. “It might be something that we could use for our more natural areas like the University Settlement Camp or Hiddenbrooke Park. We won't be applying this round. I've heard there could be grants available for maintenance in some special situations like widespread disease, but I think generally it falls to the municipality.”

The grant eligibility requirements above the above mentioned reforestation grant state that tree maintenance and planning are ineligible for use of those grant funds if awarded.

On page 25 of the Bid Document / Request For Applications, guidelines state: “Funds cannot be used for real property (land) acquisition; maintenance of individual trees; or trail planning, design and construction. Costs considered ‘maintenance’ of tree after the commissioning period are not eligible.”

The City of Beacon’s Plan and Budget For Preventative Tree Pruning

The question remains: what is the City of Beacon’s plan and budget for preventative measures for the increasing amount of large tree branches falling in Beacon on City owned and maintained property? Some of the large trees that have been falling, like this one along Matteawan Road in March of last year (2025) and the two removed this year near the track, may be on Beacon City of School District property. ALBB reached out to the District for confirmation, but has received no response yet.

As summer progresses, rainfalls included, more tree branches have been falling throughout the City of Beacon. The water is draining slowly into the ground, and Friday night, at least two major tree branches fell in Memorial Park. One in front of the Highway Department hut, and the other near a baseball field and where the volleyball players set up nets. Mothers often sit beneath those trees nursing their babies or spreading a picnic lunch.

The last fallen tree branch that A Little Beacon Blog reported on was on Beekman Street at the base of the lawn of the Hammond Plaza community, not even a month ago on July 30th. The year prior to that, an entire tree fell further down the sidewalk block of that lawn.

Last week, two iconic trees were removed by arborists at the Beacon City School District track, along Verplanck at Mattawan.

Does The City Of Beacon Have A Tree Management Plan?

This tree near electrical wires with dead branches is at the Beacon Bears Football field in Memorial Park.

The City of Beacon has been designated a “Tree City.” Mayor Kyriacou is strongly advocating for the development of the Rail Trail through Beacon, which will bring more tourists, but will disrupt land usage here by private landowners and businesses who lease land and will lose their parking lot.

Use of the public parks such as Memorial Park and Green Street Park have been increasing with volunteer based sports recreation leagues of all ages, and kids activities, such as the Kid Day Camp that the Beacon Parks and Recreation Department hosted at Memorial Park. Not to mention the new free movie screenings also from the Beacon Parks and Recreation Department through a partnership with Story Screen. And of course, the gathering for the 4th of July fireworks.

The City of Beacon does have a Tree Advisory Committee who in theory is assigned with tasks, but the Committee has not presented to City Council in some time, unless it is having a public ceremony to plant a tree along Main Street or other designated spot, or to carry out their successful backyard tree program.

According to the City of Beacon’s website, the Tree Advisory Committee is responsible for the following items. It is unknown at this time if the Tree Advisory Committee has made recommendations to Mayor Kyriacou or former City Administrator Chris White or current City Administrator Ben Swanson about regular tree pruning work, to be on the offense with aging trees.

Making recommendations to City Staff regarding removal, pruning, or planting of public trees;
Maintenance of a citywide inventory of trees in public spaces;
Development of a Tree Master Plan for the City of Beacon;
Promotion of tree maintenance citywide, and educating the citizens of Beacon about the benefits and care of trees as well as threats to tree health;
Organizing an annual Arbor Day celebration (this is a requirement of being designated a “Tree City”);
Assisting various City departments regarding issues of tree planting, removal, and replacement throughout Beacon.

The fallen tree branch further into Memorial Park by the baseball field is one of the older trees. Next to that older line of trees, baby trees have been planted, perhaps to replace the aging trees beside them.