Aurora Arbor Day celebration 'for future generations'

The city of Aurora celebrates Arbor Day in a different park every year.

This year's celebration was in Garfield Park, where kids on Friday planted trees, while free seedlings of oak trees were given out.

Abby Schuler, First Ward alderman, remembers planting trees on Arbor Day when she was in grade school. She invited seventh and eighth graders from St. Joseph Elementary School to help plant various oak trees in the park.

"It's an enjoyable thing for us today," said Bill Pauley, arborist for the city, "but it's really for future generations to enjoy."

The city planted five trees and had about 300 seedlings of six varieties of oaks available to distribute on a first-come, first-served basis. The seedlings were donated by Living Land and Waters Foundation of East Moline. It is part of the group's Milliontrees Project.