Love nature? Love the environment? Love old trees? Then help save a beautiful Maplewood tree from being cut down for development.

The tree stands on Pierson Road in Maplewood. It is a magnificent London planetree sycamore, 72 inches in diameter—that's six feet wide. It may be the largest of its kind in New Jersey. It is well over 100 years old, and one tree expert noted it could be close to 200 years old. 

For 17 years, Maplewood has proudly held the designation of Tree City USA, and this towering tree is part of what makes our town so special.

But a developer who bought the property submitted this plan to the Maplewood Planning Board with the tree marked TBR—To Be Removed. 

It is outrageous that a perfectly healthy, thriving tree could be destroyed to give a developer some more room to build. 

This tree is not only beautiful—it's extraordinary. The New Jersey Big Tree Conservation Program has noted this tree's importance. As program administrator Forrest Jennings wrote in a letter: 

"The current Champion London planetree on our registry is significantly smaller, 58" (4.8') in diameter and is in Plainfield, New Jersey. We previously did not know London planetrees in New Jersey could obtain the diameter you report, making this tree of exceptional historic and ecological significance."

The tree provides crucial environmental benefits. At a time when communities everywhere are striving to preserve tree canopies for cleaner, cooler air and climate resilience, removing a healthy tree would be a step in the wrong direction. Livingston and Scotch Plains had devastating wildfires in 2024—an urgent reminder of how critical it is to protect mature trees in our area. Maplewood, a designated Tree City USA, should be known for stewarding its natural heritage, not allowing developers to eliminate it.

Please sign this petition to urge Maplewood's officials to require the developer to preserve this extraordinary tree. Let's protect Maplewood's green legacy—and keep our Tree City USA roots alive. 

Note, any request you receive from GoFundMe soliciting contributions are requesting funding to help run this site; those donations are *not* for the preservation of this tree. The only thing being sought here is community support to preserve the tree.