Public invited to Auburn’s Arbor Day celebration on Friday

The City of Auburn invites the public to its Arbor Day celebration at 11 a.m. Friday, April 11 at Lea Hill Park, 124th and 319th St. SE.

April 2, 2014 6:27 pm

For the Reporter

The City of Auburn invites the public to its Arbor Day celebration at 11 a.m. Friday, April 11 at Lea Hill Park, 124th and 319th St. SE.

City officials, along with volunteers from the Auburn Garden Club, Auburn Tree Board, Auburn Park Board, representatives from the state Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Community Forestry Council will be planting a Tri Color Beech tree donated by the Auburn Garden Club.

Mayor Nancy Backus will proclaim April 11 as Arbor Day in Auburn and encourages all citizens to support the efforts to protect our trees and woodlands, and plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.

Auburn is recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA, which recognizes communities that effectively manage their urban forest and meet four standards. The standards including having a tree governing body; maintaining a comprehensive community forestry program that spends at least $2 per capita on the urban forest; maintaining a tree care ordinance; and holding an annual celebration related to Arbor Day. A member of the Statewide Washington Community Forestry Council will be on hand during the celebration to acknowledge Auburn’s designation as a Tree City USA.

As part of Auburn’s Tree City USA designation, the City of Auburn Planning Department manages Community Grants that encourage citizens to apply for tree plantings in residential and commercial neighborhoods. In exchange for financial assistance, groups must commit to plant, water and maintain the trees. For additional information about the Tree Grants, call the City of Auburn Planning Department at 253-931-3090.

In 2014, Arbor Day will be celebrating its 142nd anniversary. Trees are a renewable resource, giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires, and wherever they are planted; they are a source of joy, beauty and spiritual renewal. Trees can reduce erosion of our precious topsoil, cut heating and cooling costs, clean the air and provide habitat for wildlife.