The City of Owensboro Public Works Department is hosting its third annual Community Tree Planting event on Saturday, April 13, at 9 a.m. at Thompson-Berry Park.
According to event organizer and Engineering Technician for the City of Owensboro Sondra Hagan, the Ursuline Sisterhood of Mount Saint Joseph collects monetary donations to purchase tree saplings. The saplings are then donated to the City of Owensboro to plant for events surrounding Arbor Day, which falls on April 26 this year.
“We chose Thompson-Berry park due to its location along Thompson-Berry Creek in one of our major watersheds,” Hagan said. “We plant trees because, not only are they beautiful to look at and help produce clean oxygen, they also are very valuable when it comes to keeping our stormwater clean.”
Being alongside a creek or stream, trees help to prevent runoff that might occur during large rain events, Hagan said, as well as to create a surface area where rainwater can collect and then evaporate allowing some ground below a little protection from excessive amounts of water.
The organizers hope that this event can be used to bring the community together, educate the public on the importance of trees and their help in keeping stormwater clean as well as the “footprint” left by humans.
Last year’s event brought around 50 people, and Hagan hopes to double that this year.
“It’s a great opportunity for people of all ages — children, teens and adults to come and support their communities,” Hagan said. “The City and their partners will provide everything needed to plant the saplings.”
The first 100 volunteers will receive a free silky Dogwood sapling that was purchased by the City to gift to volunteers to show its appreciation for those that attend the community day.
Thompson-Berry Park is at 1 Carter Road. For more information, contact Sondra Hagan at 270-687-8641 or [email protected].
