After months of debate over tree removals in Oaklyn, one local resident decided to turn the conversation into action—donating $1,500 to help put new trees back into the community.
Oaklyn resident and Audubon attorney David Hasner, owner of Hasner and Hasner, PA, has donated $1,500 to the borough to fund six new street trees, with planting planned for fall 2026. And if you've been following the conversation around Oaklyn's trees lately, you'll know why this donation has particular significance.
Oaklyn's Tree Removals Sparked Concern Among Residents
Tree removal has become a major local issue in Oaklyn, with residents raising concerns at public meetings and on social media about the loss of mature trees around town. That included the removal of a roughly 30-year-old willow oak on Clinton Avenue, along with trees on Kendall Boulevard and surrounding streets.
For residents, the debate hasn't simply been about losing attractive trees; it has also raised questions about transparency surrounding removals and what the loss of mature tree canopy could mean for Oaklyn's neighborhoods over the long term.
From Facebook Frustration to a $1,500 Check
Hasner had been watching the discussion unfold in the Oaklyn Facebook News Facebook group and decided he wanted to do something more constructive than add another comment to the debate. He connected with Oaklyn's Green Team and volunteer Shade Tree Committee, where he learned there was already a long list of residents interested in having trees planted. What the groups needed was additional funding.
So Hasner took the issue to Oaklyn Borough Council and ultimately wrote a $1,500 check to fund six new trees, at an estimated cost of approximately $250 each. The exact species and locations have not yet been finalized, but the intention is to work with borough volunteers to place the trees in areas where residents have requested replacements or additional canopy.
Why Oaklyn's Tree Canopy Matters
For a walkable community like Oaklyn NJ, trees aren't simply decorative; mature street trees provide shade for sidewalks, homes and public spaces, and that becomes particularly noticeable during the hot summer days we experience here in South Jersey.
That's especially important in communities where people regularly walk their dogs, take their kids around the neighborhood, bike into nearby towns, or simply spend time outside. Replacing lost trees won't recreate a mature canopy overnight—trees need years to grow—which makes maintaining healthy existing trees and continually planting replacements particularly important.
A Small Donation With a Very Local Impact
Hasner's connection to the area goes beyond this donation. After living in Collingswood for five years, he moved to Oaklyn in 2018, while his law practice is located nearby in Audubon NJ and serves clients throughout surrounding South Jersey communities (That's what makes this story particularly interesting.)
It's easy for neighborhood Facebook groups to become places where residents vent about decisions they disagree with. In this case, one of those conversations resulted in someone asking a much more productive question: what can I actually do to help?
Six trees won't resolve every question surrounding Oaklyn's approach to its tree canopy, but it's six more trees that will eventually provide shade, greenery and environmental benefits to the blocks where they're planted. And it's a great example of what can happen when residents, local businesses, volunteers and municipal organizations work together to improve the places where they live.
When Will Oaklyn's New Trees Be Planted?
The six new street trees are expected to be planted in fall 2026, when cooler weather should provide better conditions for establishing them. Hasner is now working with borough volunteers to determine exactly where they'll go.
What do you think? Should more South Jersey businesses and residents get involved in funding projects like this in their own communities? Or should we be expecting more from our local townships and boroughs? This story comes to you from The JFKLiving Team, one of South Jersey's top real estate teams, so be sure to check back on our blog for more news, or visit us at @JFKLiving on Instagram for all South Jersey updates.
