One Hudson Valley Tradition Now a Thing of the Past
The Annual Village of New Paltz Christmas Tree Bonfire is now officially a thing of the past. This year the village will mulch your tree instead.
In years past the Village would collect your trees and bring them to the park to have the Annual Village Christmas Tree Bonfire. Families and folks would come hang out at Hasbrouck Park for an early evening of fun, food and flames. The Village of New Paltz Fire Department would manage the fire. It was also a great way for the community to give back to the local fire department each year.
Last year the event was canceled due to weather and then wasn't able to be rescheduled. Last year was also the year that a discussion surfaced that basically boiled down to the rumor mill saying that burning trees wasn't good for the environment. That the smoke from the event was invasive and that the village should find a more environmentally friendly way to dispose of the live trees people put on the curb. So this year mulching is replacing the bonfire.
The Village of New Paltz will be mulching Christmas trees this year and offering the mulch to anyone interested in it for gardens or pathways. Residents are encouraged to get their trees out of the house BEFORE they dry out as they pose a high fire risk. There are two ways you can dispose of your Christmas tree to be mulched:
- In the Village, leave it curbside any time before 10:00 AM on Friday, January 11th 2019. If you choose this option, please give the DPW a call at 845-255-1980 to give a heads-up that the tree is ready for pick-up or;
- Drop it off at the Village DPW next to Village Hall, 25 Plattekill Avenue before 10:00 AM on Friday, January 11th, 2019.
Contact Village Clerk Alberta Shaw for more information: 845-255-0130 or clerk@villageofnewpaltz.org Mulch will be made available free of charge to the public after Monday, January 14, 2019 at the Village’s waste water treatment plant located off of Huguenot Street. Please note: many gardeners recommend aging fresh mulch before applying to plants. Please consult with a garden expert if unsure what’s best for your application.
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