Village celebrates Arbor Day April 29
Mark your calendar! The village of Mount Prospect Public Works Department will host an Arbor Day tree planting ceremony at 10 a.m. Friday, April 29. The ceremony will be held at Park View Montessori School at 805 Burning Bush Lane in Mount Prospect.
During the ceremony, Mayor Irvana Wilks, various Village officials, and students and staff from Park View Montessori School will plant a Miyabe Maple in the parkway. The Mayor will recite an original poem she wrote and the students will perform songs to commemorate the occasion. Also helping with the planting will be members of the Garden Club of Mount Prospect; the Garden Club has contributed funds to help the Village purchase the Arbor Day tree. Additionally, Public Works mascot P.W. Paws will make a special appearance.
The Village will also commemorate its recent receipt of the Tree City USA (TCU) Award and Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation in Nebraska. This is the 26th consecutive year Mount Prospect has received the TCU award, and the 9th year for the Growth Award, for the Village's urban forestry program.
The Village's Forestry/Grounds Superintendent Sandy Clark noted recently that 2011 has been designated as the “International Year of Forests.” This is an effort by the United Nations to celebrate people's actions to sustainably manage the world's forests. “Trees are so important to our community and our earth. Planting a tree is a great way to celebrate both Arbor Day and the International Year of Forests,” said Clark. She noted that trees provide people with numerous benefits. “In addition to their aesthetic qualities, they have the ability to absorb carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, provide food, medicines and shade, filter pollution, reduce energy costs, and more. I hope our citizens will join us this year in planting trees to help sustain Mount Prospect's urban forest,” she said.
The public is invited to attend the ceremony on April 29. For further details, call the Public Works Department at (847) 870-5640.