Morristown is about to get a lot greener.
The town has received a $758,735 state grant that will add hundreds of trees to neighborhoods and Burnham Park, while funding invasive-species removal, reforestation and other environmental improvements.
The town council is expected Tuesday to approve adding the grant, from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, to Morristown’s 2026 budget.
The Natural Climate Solutions Grant will enable the Morristown Shade Tree Commission to fill every vacant tree-planting location in the Second Ward — approximately 180 trees, according to commission Chair Kristin Ace.
Ace described the ward as an underserved area of Morristown.
The grant also will fund the environmental portion of the Burnham Park Master Plan, including invasive-species remediation and reforestation of natural areas.
Approximately 300 trees are planned for Burnham Park, along with native shrubs and grasses where appropriate. Some areas also will be seeded with wildflowers, Ace said.
The Shade Tree Commission will partner with the Burnham Park Association and the Whippany River Watershed Action Committee for the volunteer, in-kind portion of the grant. The Second Ward and Burnham Park projects will be outsourced and put through the bidding process required by state law.
For Ace, the award represents another milestone in efforts to expand and protect Morristown’s tree canopy.
She said the latest grant brings the amount of grant funding secured by the Shade Tree Commission under her leadership to $1,116,135.
“Not too shabby!” Ace said.
The grant comes just months after Ace was recognized by Morris County with the Cecilia G. “Cissy” Laureys Senior & Volunteer Award.
Mayor Tim Dougherty, who nominated Ace for the honor, cited “her dedication, leadership, and continued commitment to our community.”
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Congratulations and much appreciation to Kristin, the volunteers and anyone associated with this grant and the effort to replace trees. Kristin’s leadership has made the Shade Tree Commission very successful, from Foote’s Pond Woods at one end of Morristown to Burnham Park at the other.
Over the years at the shop, customers who grew up here—and those who had just moved here—would often talk about the trees. Trees are more than a natural amenity; they are part of what makes a community a good place to live. I have so much respect for Kristin and her dedication to making Morristown greener and better for everyone. Thank you, Kristin, for all you do.