The township of Roxbury, NJ is planning on removing ALL TREES on Righter Road, from Hillside Avenue to Eyland Avenue without replacing them. 

The township is removing all, 40+ trees, in order to repair the existing sidewalks along Righter Road. They fear the trees because of their mature and established root system, which may cause the sidewalks to lift. (The existing sidewalks have not been repaired in decades and were already in respectable condition.) Within the last month, sidewalk repairs have already begun, resulting in level and safe sidewalks with no interference from existing trees or their roots. 

Having lived on this street for 20+ years, the trees that reside on Righter Road have provided myself and the community a sense of protection, comfort and calm. I, along with my neighbors, have literally grown alongside these trees. Each tree stands tall and strong while their branches reach out and extend, over the road. The breeze scuffles the leaves, creating waves of deep green. They hug the street. They welcome drivers, cyclists and runners with a tunnel of natural beauty. These trees connect the community from places like Eisenhower Middle School and Horseshoe Lake, to Roxbury High School, The Roxbury Mall and The Shops at Ledgewood Commons. 

The township's plan to eliminate well-grown, settled and significant trees is a selfish solution to avoid further maintenance/repairs of the sidewalks. This act would be a great detriment to residents of Righter Road, and the community who enjoys our street and the overall beauty of Roxbury. 

If the eradication of trees on Righter Road continue as plan, by the Township of Roxbury, residents and community members will endure... 

• A loss of Privacy- Our trees create natural and organic forms that don't make us feel so exposed and revealed. A barren street with no trees feels sterile and lacks any sort of charm or comfort.
• Decreased Protection- Righter Road is a wide street and has a speed limit of 35 mph. Not everyone abides to this speed limit. Our trees act as barriers as they keep residential property, sidewalk joggers and the high school students who either park on Righter Road or walk, safe from potential danger.
• Increased Heat- The Shade given from the trees protect the elderly and families with young children and pets, who tend to walk on our sidewalks on hot days.
• Potential Flooding- Without these trees, rainfall will surely flood our street (as they do already). The abundance of leaves and immense trunks help absorb and disperse rainfall so they do not overwhelm our street's drainage system.
• Diminished Natural Beauty- What's better than driving through Righter Road in the Fall time where shades of yellow, orange and red engulf the top of your windshield? 
• Environmental Guilt- With no promised replacement of trees, the township should really re-consider if extracting these trees to reduce future sidewalk reparations is worth it, considering our environmental duties as humans and the global fight to combat climate change.

* WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP *

1. Sign this petition! - Solutions come from community and collaboration. The more community involvement and engagement shown, the better of a chance we have to reverse this plan.
2. Share this petition! - Consider sharing this petition with anyone you think would support this cause! The more the merrier.
3. Voice your objections to Roxbury's Elected Officials - If you wish, please express your objection of the removal of trees along Righter Road. 

* The email addresses and phone numbers of Roxbury Elected Officials can be found here

Please do not donate any money. It will only go to the website and will not directly affect this petition or its cause.