Free saplings part of the festivities at Highland Park Arbor Day Celebration

Posted April 23, 2018 11:00 pm

Submitted by Ripple Public Relations

Highland Park Park District Natural Areas Program Volunteer Coordinator Liz Ettelson gives students and a staff member from Green Bay School an up-close look at a sapling during Arbor Day activities last year in Sunset Park. In back are, from left, Natural Areas Manager Rebecca Grill, City Forester Keith O'Herrin and Assistant City Forester Ben Miller. Courtesy of Ripple Public Relations

The city of Highland Park, in partnership with the Ravinia District, will host its Arbor Day Celebration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 28, at Jens Jensen Park, 486 Roger Williams Ave. More than a dozen green-friendly organizations and local businesses will offer activities and projects focused on planting and caring for trees. The city will give away 500 free oak tree seedlings ready for planting, on a first-come, first-served basis. The goal of the giveaway is to repopulate oak trees throughout the city.

The event is free, family friendly, and open to the public.

Participating organizations and businesses have planned a variety of free children's activities including Touch-A-Truck, a raptor talk with live birds by Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab & Education, craft projects, and more.

Adults can pick up free plants, join a guided tree identification walk, and participate in educational discussions and demonstrations.

The Art Center of Highland Park will facilitate a public art project commemorating the Arbor Day event, which will be on display through May at city hall, 1707 St. Johns Ave., Highland Park.

"Our community values sustainable practices and is proud to consistently be named as a Tree City by the Arbor Day Foundation. This prestigious designation recognizes that cleaner air, improved stormwater management, and increased property values are just some of the benefits of the program," Mayor Nancy Rotering said. "This celebration is a wonderful opportunity to come together to celebrate our achievement and continue learning about the value of protecting our trees and environment."

The city of Highland Park issued its first sustainability plan in 2010 and, since then, it has not only implemented many projects and created new policies, but also has embedded sustainable practices and procedures within its departments. Sustainability is a routine feature of Highland Park's municipal operations. This event meets the goals set forth in the plan. Highland Park has been designated a Tree City USA for the past 38 years by the National Arbor Day Foundation. In order to earn the designation, a community must have a tree board or department, have a city tree ordinance, maintain a comprehensive forestry program and observe Arbor Day each year.

For more information on the city of Highland Park Arbor Day event, visit www.cityhpil.com/arborday or call the city manager's office, at (847) 926-1000.

For other upcoming events, including the second annual Food Truck Thursdays June 7 through Sept. 13, like and follow Ravinia District of Highland Park and the city of Highland Park on Facebook.

Retired Highland Park city forester Joe O'Neill plants a sapling with students from Green Bay School in Highland Park. Courtesy of Ripple Public Relations

Liz Ettelson leads students and staff from Green Bay School in Arbor Day activities last year in Highland Park's Sunset Park. This year, the city of Highland Park and the Ravinia District will host an Arbor Day Celebration from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 28 at Highland Park's Jens Jensen Park. Courtesy of Ripple Public Relations

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