Palatine celebrates Arbor Day with planting of an American hornbeam tree

Children from Parkside Preschool took turns helping Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz add mulch to the base of a pre-planted American hornbeam tree during an Arbor Day celebration Friday at Community Park.

Dozens of spectators and officials from the village and park district gathered for the celebration on the sunny but somewhat chilly morning.

Amy Vito, assistant superintendent of parks, said thousands of ash trees within the village and the park district were wiped out by the emerald ash borer, and replacing them and reforesting has been a monumental task.

"So this is just another opportunity for us to plant a tree in (what is) probably an ash tree's place," Vito said. "This is a tree that's native to the area, so we're putting in a tree that's supposed to be in this environment."

In addition, packaged spruce and fir saplings were available at the event to take home and plant.