The area along Nicolls Road, just north of the main entrance to Stony Brook University, has seen a significant increase in greenery due to the Nicolls Road Beautification Project. This effort, led by the university’s Campus Operations and Maintenance Department within the Facilities & Services Division, involved planting 215 Green Giant Arborvitae trees. Each tree stands between five and six feet tall.
The new trees form an evergreen barrier designed to screen parking lots, buildings, and other infrastructure from public view. The project aims to improve both the landscape and the first impression for visitors arriving at Stony Brook University. It also supports environmental sustainability and ongoing beautification efforts on campus.
Support for this initiative came from former New York State Assemblymember and current Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright. William Herrmann, vice president for facilities and services and chief sustainability officer at Stony Brook University, said: “Our goal with the Nicolls Road Beautification Initiative was to soften the corridor and create a more intentional first impression of campus. By establishing a living evergreen barrier along this busy roadway, made possible through support from former Assemblymember and current Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright, our dedicated Facilities and Services team has delivered an improvement that benefits our students, patients, staff, and the broader community every day.”
Englebright added: “I commend the Stony Brook University administration for its ongoing beautification efforts and commitment to being a good neighbor. The 215 Green Giant Arborvitae trees recently planted along Nicolls Road will provide natural beauty for drivers to enjoy for generations to come.”
Charles Tramontana, president of the Three Village Civic Association, also expressed appreciation: “The addition of trees in our community is always very much appreciated by the Three Village Civic Association, and I think they really increase the natural scenery of the corridor.”
