City of Columbia Missouri

P.O. BOX 6015
COLUMBIA, MO 65205

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 8, 2014

CONTACT: Tammy Miller, 874-7465

Arbor Day Events Planned

(COLUMBIA, MO) -

The City of Columbia will hold its 17th Annual Arbor Day program in the schools on April 25. This year's celebration will start at about 9 a.m. at Lee Elementary School.

Parks and Recreation forestry staff will be assisting students in planting six container trees at the school, if weather permits. In addition, staff will be planting 10 ball and burlap trees at the school.   

In addition to planting, students will rotate through educational stations that promote proper tree planting and care. The stations will focus on tree benefits, the proper place to plant a tree, tree trimming equipment, planting container trees, and tree identification.

The Arbor Day school celebration is a collaboration among Parks and Recreation, Columbia Water and Light, Asplundh tree service, the City's Arborist and the Missouri Department of Conservation.

Parks and Recreation will follow the school celebration with a tree giveaway at the ARC (1701 W. Ash) on April 26, in cooperation with the citizen volunteer group, the TreeKeepers. The giveaway will begin at 8 a.m. with 1,000 trees available.  The public is welcome to take home two trees apiece. A variety of shade trees, flowering trees and shrubs will be available. Columbia Public Works will also be at the event, distributing free compost samples.

Columbia holds Arbor Day events each year as part of their designation as a Tree City USA, a recognition bestowed by the National Arbor Day Foundation to honor the city's commitment to a forestry program. Columbia has met all four standards to be a Tree City USA: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program and an Arbor Day observance.

For more information about the Arbor Day observance, call Parks and Recreation at 874-7460.



City of Columbia Vision
Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.

City of Columbia Mission
To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.

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