Springfield, IL. (WTAX) – Friday is Arbor Day and the City of Springfield is commemorating the occasion by giving away 1,000 trees this week. City Arborist Brad Hamel says the city is providing young redbud, flowering dogwood and tupelo trees while they last.
Hamel says providing the trees is part of the city’s commitment to urban forestry. Cities like Springfield that are designated as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation must do four things.
First, a Tree City USA needs to have an Arbor Day proclamation and celebration. In celebration of Arbor Day and the 30th anniversary of Springfield becoming a Tree City USA, the community and city stakeholders are invited to attend a tree planting event at the Downtown YMCA starting at 4 p.m. on Friday where the proclamation will be read. Hamel says they chose the YMCA since this is the 152nd anniversary of Arbor Day and the YMCA just celebrated its 150th anniversary.
Second, the city must have a representative tree board or arborist on staff. Hamel says Springfield has both a city arborist and an urban forestry commission.
Third, the city is required to have a public street tree care ordinance that states the city will take responsibility for trees in the public right-of-way.
Finally, Tree City USAs are required to spend at least $2 per capita on trees and tree maintenance. Hamel says this is an easy stipulation for Springfield and most cities to meet. He says most cities spend $5 to $10 per capita on average.
The free trees will be available while they last at the Downtown YMCA from 12:30 to 5:00 p.m. on Friday and at Lincoln Park from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday. Hamel says the young trees are about the diameter of a pinky finger and are about two feet long.
