Arbor Day set for May 21

The Green River Parks and Recreation Department is set to celebrate Arbor Day Saturday at Indian Hills Park.

The celebration begins at 10 a.m. Numerous door prizes will be given away including a gas chain saw, tree pruning lopper, and other great landscaping tools. Cottonwood, Ash, Dogwood, and Pine seedlings will be available to take home for free along with planting instructions and tree care advice. The Green River Girl Scout troop will plant new trees in the park and refreshments will be available to all who attend.

“The importance of attending the Arbor Day Celebration is to keep the public awareness of the importance of our trees in the community.  Trees provide us with more than just beauty.  We need them for shelter, air purification, and wind protection just to name a few.  We encourage the parents and children to plant the trees that we give away on this occasion along with instructions for care,” Green River Tree Board Chair Dorothy Krause said.

Green River has been recognized as a “Tree City” by the Arbor Day Foundation for 32 consecutive years.

The city is home to a wealth of natural resources. Trees are one such resource that can act as a symbol for stewardship. The simple act of tree planting exposes youth and adults to a hands-on sustainable development practice. Individuals witness a change being made environmentally and for the communities they live in. As said by the Greek proverb, “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they will never sit in.”