The announcement of SUNY Old Westbury as a 2025 Tree Campus USA® honoree marks the seventh time the university’s commitment to environmental stewardship and strategic campus planning has been recognized.
This recognition, awarded by the Arbor Day Foundation, highlights the university’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship and the care and preservation of its campus tree canopy.
The Old Westbury campus is comprised of 604 acres that are home to a mixture of trees that comprise a diverse, resilient hardwood forest. The mixture of trees on campus includes red oaks, tulip trees, beech, black birch, red maples, scarlet oaks, black oaks and white oaks.
This recognition highlights the commitment of our Grounds team and the valuable partnerships that support our efforts...”
-- Justin Burmeister, interim director of facilities operations
Through its maintenance and care planning, the campus canopy reflects a balanced age distribution, preserving heritage trees while investing in the next generation of growth.
“This recognition highlights the commitment of our Grounds team and the valuable partnerships that support our efforts,” said Justin Burmeister, interim director of facilities operations. “Caring for more than 604 acres demands careful planning, consistent maintenance, and a long-term perspective. We remain dedicated to preserving our campus landscape while advancing the university’s continued growth and development.”
The Tree Campus USA program recognizes colleges and universities that meet five core standards for effective campus forest management: establishment of a campus tree advisory committee, evidence of a campus tree care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for the campus tree program, an Arbor Day observance and the sponsorship of student service learning projects.
As part of SUNY Old Westbury’s Facilities Operations department, the Grounds department approaches tree management as both an environmental responsibility and a critical asset management function.
Community engagement also remains central to these efforts. Arbor Day 2025 included the planting of trees outside the F. Ambrose Clark Physical Education and Recreation Center, made with the cooperation of the Athletics department.