Remembrance Trees
Centre Region residents are invited to mark a personal milestone with a living reminder by placing a donation for a shade tree to be placed in a local park. 525 Remembrance Trees have been planted in municipal and regional parks since 1994! Help us "green" our local parks with a Remembrance Tree in honor of a friend, family member, loved one, or beloved pet! Donors may choose their trees from lists created for each park, and will be notified when the tree(s) is planted. The Remembrance Tree Program is a cooperative effort by Centre Region Parks and Recreation and five Centre Region municipalities, including the Borough of State College, and the Townships of College, Ferguson, Harris, and Patton.
Due to the popularity of some parks and the amount of Remembrance Trees already planted, as well as changing master plans for some of our municipal-owned parks, some parks are not available for the 2025 planting seasons. At this time, Remembrance Trees will not be planted at Haymarket Park, Holmes-Foster Park, Spring Creek Park, Sunset Park, and Tom Tudek Memorial Park Arboretum. This list is not all-inclusive; please contact our office to inquire about available parks.
We would like to encourage Remembrance Trees to be planted at Ambleside Park, Bernel Road Park, Circleville Park, Graysdale Park, Greenbriar-Saybrook Park, Homestead Park, Marjorie Mae Park, Oak Hall Regional Park, and Whitehall Road Regional Park.
Standard 1.5" - 2" caliper Remembrance Tree
The donation will be noted in the CRPR Remembrance Tree Roster, located on this website. An engraved plastic donor tag will be secured to the tree; the longevity of the tag can only be guaranteed for 12 months from the planting date. Please note that certain specialized species, if requested by the donor, may increase the donation amount based on the increased purchase price from the commercial nursery. The donation for this tree is $430. Trees are guaranteed for one-year; anytime after this period, trees can be replaced by the purchaser at the cost of the replacement tree. Tree location is at the sole discretion of the Department’s Horticulturist and is based on each park’s master plan.
Standard 1.5" - 2" caliper Remembrance Tree – American Beech and Cucumber Magnolia
The donation will be noted in the CRPR Remembrance Tree Roster, located on this website. An engraved plastic donor tag will be secured to the tree; the longevity of the tag can only be guaranteed for 12 months from the planting date. Please note that certain specialized species, if requested by the donor, may increase the donation amount based on the increased purchase price from the commercial nursery. The donation for this tree is $495. Trees are guaranteed for one-year; anytime after this period, trees can be replaced by the purchaser at the cost of the replacement tree. Tree location is at the sole discretion of the Department’s Horticulturist and is based on each park’s master plan.
1.5"-2" caliper Arboretum Tree with cast bronze plaque
A permanent, cast bronze plaque is available for Remembrance Tree purchases and is installed beside the Remembrance Tree at the time of planting. The plaque wording is limited on the basis of size and content, must be consistent with other park plaques across the region, and is subject to CRPR approval. The donation for this tree is $610. Trees are guaranteed for one-year; anytime after this period, trees can be replaced by the purchaser at the cost of the replacement tree. Tree location is at the sole discretion of the Department’s Horticulturist and is based on each park’s master plan.
1.5"-2" caliper Arboretum Tree with cast bronze plaque– American Beech and Cucumber Magnolia
The donation will be noted in the CRPR Remembrance Tree Roster, located on this website. An engraved plastic donor tag will be secured to the tree; the longevity of the tag can only be guaranteed for 12 months from the planting date. Please note that certain specialized species, if requested by the donor, may increase the donation amount based on the increased purchase price from the commercial nursery. The donation for this tree is $680. Trees are guaranteed for one-year; anytime after this period, trees can be replaced by the purchaser at the cost of the replacement tree. Tree location is at the sole discretion of the Department’s Horticulturist and is based on each park’s master plan.
Trees that are damaged or those that have died and are out of warranty can be replaced by the purchaser at the cost of the replacement tree. If the purchaser is not interested in a replacement tree, the Agency can return the cast bronze plaque with the purchaser paying the shipping fees. The Agency will host plaques for three years.
Below is a list of tree species for reference only. If you are interested in a tree species that is not on this list, you may make a suggestion to be reviewed by the CRPR Horticulturist. Hemlocks and Ash trees will not be planted due to the threat of pests and disease; Red Maples will no longer be planted to prevent a monoculture of that species. The goal is to increase the diversity of tree species within the Centre Region Parks.
APPROVED REMEMBRANCE TREES*:
Ruby Red Horsechestnut * River Birch * Sugar Maple * Swamp White Oak * Northern Red Oak * White Pine * Blue Spruce * American Beech * Tulip Poplar * Serviceberry * Dogwood * Blackgum * Redbud * Honeylocust * Sweetgum * London Planetree * Crabapple * Littleleaf Linden * American Hornbeam * Hackberry * Gingko * Kentucky Coffeetree * Dawn Redwood * Bald Cypress * Paperbark Maple * Scarlet Oak * Okame Cherry * Norway Spruce * Tree Lilac * Weeping Willow * Bur Oak * Elm (resistant varieties) * Catalpa * Red Maple * Cucumber Magnolia
2023/2024 Remembrance Tree Planting Roster
Tree # | Year | Park | Tree | Tree | Donor(s) | In Remembrance/Honor Of |
507 | 2023 | Tom Tudek Memorial Park | Appalachian Red | Cercis canadensis | Donald Balazik | In honor of my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. |
508 | 2023 | Bernel Road Park | Tulip Poplar | Liriodendron tulipifera | Family and Friends of Jean Frank | In honor of Jean Frank--A true pioneer woman who continues to inspire us all. |
509 | 2023 | Orchard Park | Crabapple | Malus sylvestris | The Hahn Family | In remembrance of Soon O. Hahn, from her loving family. Beloved wife, mother, and artist. |
510 | 2023 | Circleville Park | Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum | Pat McDonald, Dana McDonald, Jennifer Boal, and Matt McDonald | In loving remembrance of Joseph J. McDonald Jr. Beloved husband, father, and grandfather, who enjoyed his walks in the park. From his family. |
511 | 2023 | Tom Tudek Memorial Park | Serviceberry | Amelanchier Arborea | Jennifer Norton | In loving memory of Janet Dietz, friend and mentor. |
512 | 2023 | Tusseyview Park | Crabapple | Malus sylvestris | Adrienne Soresi | In loving memory of her mother, Robin and her dog, Hunter |
513 | 2023 | Tusseyview Park | Crabapple | Malus sylvestris | Adrienne Soresi | In loving memory of her mother, Robin and her dog, Hunter |
514 | 2023 | Tusseyview Park | Crabapple | Malus sylvestris | Adrienne Soresi | In loving memory of her mother, Robin and her dog, Hunter |
515 | 2023 | Tusseyview Park | Crabapple | Malus sylvestris | Adrienne Soresi | In loving memory of her mother, Robin and her dog, Hunter |
516 | 2024 | Tom Tudek Memorial Park | American Beech | Fagus grandifolia | Tides, Inc. | "In honor of Tides families and their loved ones" |
517 | 2024 | Circleville Park | Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum | Ridge and Valley Outings Club (RVOC) | In remembrance of Nancy Ellen M. Kiernan (1940-2023): Avid Hiker and Birder |
518 | 2024 | East Fairmount Park | Tulip Poplar | Liriodendron tulipifera | The Mollo Family | In remembrance of Dr. Thomas Mollo- Beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather "Daddoo" |
519 | 2024 | Whitehall Road Regional Park | Sugar Maple | Acer saccharum | Callanish Celtic Band | In remembrance of Peter Shaw |
520 | 2024 | Whitehall Road Regional Park | Red Bud | Cercis canadensis | Centre Region Council of Governments | TBD |
521 | 2024 | Circleville Park | Eastern White Pine | Pinus strobus | Jeanne Cocolin | In loving memory of Timothy McClure Irvin. Missed so by his family-2010 |
522 | 2024 | Circleville Park | Easter White Pine | Pinus strobus | Jeanne Cocolin | In loving memory of Christine McClure Irvin. Missed so much by her family and friends- 2022 |
523 | 2024 | Millbrook Marsh Nature Center | Red Bud | Cercis canadensis | Kathryn Grossman and John Harwood | In loving memory of Willa Z. Silverman from Kathryn and John; dear friend and brilliant colleague. |
524 | 2024 | Tom Tudek Memorial Park | Blackgum | Nyssa sylvatica | Larry Assalita | In memory of Dr. Pamela M. Assalita; Our love will last forever. Larry, Sydney, & Dottie |
525 | 2024 | Tom Tudek Memorial Park | Honeylocust | Gleditsia triacanthos | Larry Assalita | In memory of Dr. Pamela M. Assalita; I miss you every day. Love always, Sydney |
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The donation period for 2025 spring plantings closes on December 31, 2024. If purchased after that deadline, your tree will be planted in the spring of 2026.
Remembrance Tree Donations may be made in person or by phone. Please mail your donation to: Centre Region Parks & Recreation Authority, 2040 Sandy Drive, Suite A, State College, PA 16803, or contact the Agency at 814-231-3071 to discuss your tree planting questions.
Click for the past Remembrance Tree rosters from 1994 to 2024. To search this large PDF, use Ctrl+F and type a name into the search bar that will open in the upper right corner.