By Tessa Schulz
WKTV Contributor
Arbor Day celebrates the gift of trees this Friday, April 28. The holiday is a day dedicated to encouraging individuals to plant trees, which are essential for our ecosystem, are a renewable resource, and offer many benefits to communities.
This year, the City of Wyoming Tree Commission, “The Tree Amigos,” is partnering with Wyoming’s West Elementary, 1840 38th St. SW, for its 2023 Arbor Day ceremony set for 10:30 a.m. The event will take place in school’s Beverly Bryan Community Orchard.
West Elementary students will share poetry, art, and songs at the event. The city will plant two fruit trees in the orchard to celebrate Arbor Day.
Mayor Kent Vanderwood, who was ab advocate in establishing the tree commission in 2015, will open the event with the Arbor Day proclamation.
“We are a group of citizen volunteers who want to improve the tree canopy for our city because it is so important to the health of the people that live here,” said Estelle Slootmaker, board member of The Tree Amigos.
The event will also recognize the City of Wyoming’s eighth consecutive year as a part of Tree City USA.
ArborFest celebrations will also occur this weekend, April 28-29, in Grand Rapids. During this event, the community will plant 200 trees and give away 150 in the Roosevelt Park Neighborhood.
Arbor Day originates from the Latin word “arbor,” meaning tree.
“Trees are as important to a healthy city as the water supply, the public works department, or the police force. Our job is to educate people so they (trees) are valued, planted, and maintained more,” Slootmaker said.
This holiday has been around for centuries, dating back to 1872 when journalist Julius Morton proposed a day to encourage his fellow Nebraskans to plant trees.
Morton filled his property (160 acres) with trees to enrich the desolate planes of Nebraska. He wrote for the Nebraska City News, where he encouraged community members to learn about the ecological importance of trees.
Morton’s articles resonated with the public. The agriculture board approved his proposal for a holiday, and community members planted more than a million trees on the first Arbor Day.
“We still have a mindset that trees are decorations, but they are so integral to our way of living,” Slootmaker said.
Trees play many roles in our lives. They provide oxygen for us to breathe. They are a renewable resource giving wood and paper. Trees provide fruit for food and are a habitat for wildlife. Trees can reduce air and noise pollution in busy neighborhoods and reduce heating and cooling bills. The benefits of trees extend long past a tree’s lifetime.
“We can reduce the impacts of climate change on neighborhoods. We can improve their air quality and reduce asthma rates,” Slootmaker said. “Trees have been proven to reduce crime and boost our mental health. There are lots of good reasons to plant trees.”
The Tree Amigos needs more board members. It is required to be a Wyoming resident. Any volunteers or inquiries can contact: treeamigoswyoming@gmail.com
