Under a new initiative by Mayor Dave Fleisher, residents and volunteers are encouraged to plant trees throughout Cherry Hill this spring—particularly in 13 public spaces in dire need of shade.
Fleisher announced the launch of “Branching Out: Growing a Greener Cherry Hill” on March 6. The program calls for planting over 500 new trees in parks and open spaces, as well as residential properties throughout the Township.
“Branching Out is a unique initiative that will improve our environment, enhance existing green spaces and give residents the opportunity to plant roots for the future,” Fleisher said in a statement. “I am pleased to be able to deliver for our community a greener Cherry Hill. … Our trees provide countless benefits by keeping our air clean, helping to reduce storm water runoff and by keeping us cool. I look forward to seeing hundreds of new trees in Cherry Hill.”
After a comprehensive analysis of Cherry Hill’s tree canopy, the Township identified 13 public spaces that will benefit from new trees.
Among the 13 spaces were Chapel Avenue Park, Lewis Memorial Park, Point of Woods Neighborhood, Erlton South Park, DeCous Sports Complex, Gilmour Park, Brookfield Neighborhood, and the Township Municipal Building at 820 Mercer Street, according to the Mayor’s Chief of Staff Brian Bauerle.
The Department of Public Works (DPW) and volunteers with the Cherry Hill Environmental Board will plant 120 trees in these locations in the spring.
DPW plans to plant additional trees in Township parks and open spaces in the fall.
In addition, approximately 100 homeowners will have the opportunity to sign up to receive a 3-foot-tall native tree to plant in their yard. Homeowners in Cherry Hill can reserve a tree through the Township’s website. They will be given a choice between four native trees and must pledge to plant and maintain the tree through the web page.
An additional 300 seedlings will be distributed to residents on a first-come, first-served basis during the Township’s Arbor Day Tree Seedling Giveaway on Saturday, April 26, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon at Croft Farm at 100 Bortons Mill Road, in Cherry Hill.
The event will also include a Mayor’s Wellness Walk, with the option to walk on Croft Farm’s network of trails or paved walkways, from 9 to 10 a.m. on April 26.
“Actions speak louder than words,” Fleisher said in an email to The Sun Papers. “The `Branching Out’ program is another initiative to help keep Cherry Hill greener for future generations.
“In my 15 months as Mayor, we have acquired and preserved Holly Ravine Farm, updated the Open Space and Recreation Plan, and are finalizing plans for major neighborhood park improvements across town,” Fleisher said. “We are bringing neighbors and volunteers together to protect and enhance our green and open spaces, with more to come.”
The Mayor’s 2025 Open Space and Recreation Plan preservation program was approved by the Cherry Hill Planning Board on Feb. 3. Next, the Township Council introduced Fleisher’s proposed expansion of the Township’s Agricultural-Horticultural Commercial (AHC) Zone to include more farmland a week later. The Planning Board gave it a thumbs up on Feb. 18. The AHC expansion ordinance underwent a second reading by the Council on Monday, March 10.
At the March 10 meeting, Councilwoman and Green Team Co-Chair Jennifer Apell praised the tree-planting initiative.
“When we started this journey with trees a long time ago, one of the things that I was adamant about was that residents would have the opportunity to get trees to plant on their own properties and take care of those trees,” Apell said. “I just want to thank the Mayor and the Administration for that opportunity for Cherry Hill residents to participate because we’ve lost a lot of street trees and this will help replace (them).
“If anybody wants to volunteer to help plant the trees you can go on the Township website, and you can sign up to help plant trees,” added Apell.
Cherry Hill resident Martha Wright called in to share her enthusiasm for the Branching Out program during the meeting’s public comment portion.
“This is a great program that will reap benefits for future generations, for our children and their children,” said Wright.
“Branching Out” is funded through the Township’s innovative tree ordinance and tree fund. The ordinance requires contractors and developers to either pay into the tree fund or plant a new tree for each tree they remove, in a kind of tree-for-a-tree tradeoff.
The fund was created in 2022 after the Cherry Hill Township Council passed one of the most comprehensive tree ordinances in New Jersey.
The Mayor’s Office said the ordinance is intended to keep Cherry Hill green by protecting trees from being lost to development and holding builders and others accountable for illegal tree removal.
