By K.D. Norris
In honor of Arbor Day and Kentwood’s new designation as a Tree City USA, the city will give away 300 tree seedlings to residents throughout the week leading up to its Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 30 — a celebration which will include a tree planting.
Kentwood residents are invited to the city’s Arbor Day Celebration, planned to begin at noon on Friday, April 30, at Veterans Memorial Park, 355 48th St SE. The event will begin with an Arbor Day proclamation, followed by a tree planting in the park.
Arbor Day is an annual day of observance typically held in the spring to celebrate trees and encourage tree planting.
“The Arbor Day Celebration is an exciting opportunity to engage residents in improving the city’s tree canopy,” Kentwood Mayor Stephen Kepley said in supplied material. “Celebrating and planting trees in Kentwood will help generations to come enjoy a better quality of life with a healthier and more beautiful environment.”
Kentwood’s Arbor Day Celebration is also part of city’s participation in the Tree City USA program. Kentwood was recently recognized with the 2020 Tree City USA honor for promoting and caring for trees within the community, according to supplied material, and this is the first time Kentwood has received the designation.
In order to become a Tree City USA, cities must have an annual Arbor Day observance, a community tree ordinance, a tree board or department, and spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry activities.
“The (Tree City USA) program provides the necessary framework for communities to manage and expand their public trees, celebrate the importance of an urban tree canopy and improve care of vital city trees,” according to supplied material.
The city’s Arbor Day event will include free hot dogs and slushies, available at the concession stand. Attendees are reminded to wear face coverings, except when eating or drinking, and to follow physical distancing guidelines.
For more information on the City of Kentwood’s Arbor Day Celebration, visit kentwood.us/events.
Tree seedlings, park steward volunteer opportunities
Leading up to the Arbor Day celebration, city residents can receive free red maple or white pine tree seedlings at the Kentwood Activities Center, 355 48th St. SE, and at City Hall, 4900 Breton Ave. SE. The seedlings will be available during business hours Tuesday, April 27, through Friday, April 30, or until they are gone.
Residents are also invited to post a picture of their planted seedling on social media using the hashtag #GreeningKentwood.
The Kentwood Activities Center is open 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays. City Hall opens weekdays at 7:30 a.m., and closes at 4:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. City Hall closes at 6 p.m. Tuesdays and at noon Fridays. Face coverings are required for anyone who enters either building.
During Arbor Day week, residents can check on tree seedling availability by calling the Parks and Recreation Department at 616-656-5270.
Additionally, residents can also get involved beyond Arbor Day by joining the Kentwood Park Stewards, a new environmentally focused program to help preserve and maintain neighborhood parks, trails and public spaces.
Kentwood Park Stewards will participate in a hands-on workshop to remove invasive garlic mustard at Paris Park, 3213 60th St. SE, at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 24, in collaboration with Kent County Parks. An online “lunch and learn” on the importance of trees will also be offered at noon Wednesday, April 28.
More information and registration details for both events are available at kentwood.us/ParkStewards.
