Local Students Celebrate National Arbor Day & Mayor Receives Tree City USA Award
Mayor Piercy will accept Eugene’s 36th consecutive Tree City USA award at a presentation at the Arts & Technology Academy (ATA) with the student body, parents and teachers from 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, 2015. Tree City USA is a program of the National Arbor Day Foundation, and sponsored by the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), recognizing cities that have developed programs to plant and care for trees.
ATA students will also be celebrating their recent planting of over 40 trees in Westmorland Park to both replace trees lost in the 2014 storm as well as add new trees to the park. The trees planted were specifically selected for their aesthetic characteristics as well as their resistance to pests and pathogens. This project was an extension of science work the students were doing in the prairie area of Westmorland Park. ATA is located at 1650 W 22nd Ave in Eugene.
Arbor Day background:Arbor Day is America's national tree holiday, a day set aside to plant ceremonial trees, educate children about the importance of trees and honor the important role trees play in the daily lives of people in communities across the country. Founded in 1872, Arbor Day is now celebrated in all 50 states. In 1970, President Richard Nixon proclaimed the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day. Oregonians celebrate Arbor Week the first full week in April.