In celebration of the 150th Anniversary of Arbor Day, students from Oakcrest Elementary, members of the City Council, and the BA Parks & Recreation Department will plant trees at Arrowhead Park, 300 E. Washington St. on March 22, beginning at 10 a.m.
The City Council proclaimed March 21-25 as “Arbor Week” as part of maintaining Broken Arrow's Tree City USA status for the 22nd year. Broken Arrow is encouraging residents to support the effort to protect our trees and woodlands.
- Trees and shrubs can reduce noise levels by 50 percent as perceived by the human ear according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20-50 percent in energy used for heating according to the USDA Forest Service.
- One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and emits four tons of oxygen, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Residents who would like to leave a legacy beyond Arbor Week can participate in the City's Commemorative Tree Program. It's a way for family, friends, companies, churches, and civic organizations to donate trees for planting in one of the City's parks. Donors request the park and type of tree, such as shade, flowering, or evergreen. The City's Parks Division will plant and maintain the tree for three years. A donor's plaque will be next to the tree, and location information will be given to the donor. A commemorative tree donation is $225, with other trees ordered simultaneously available for $200 each. Go to baparks.org and click on the Commemorative Tree link for more information.
Arbor Day began in Nebraska in 1872, with the planting of more than one million trees in that state. It's now observed throughout the nation and the world. The City Council's proclamation said trees are valuable to the world because of their place in nature, and specifically important in Broken Arrow because "they increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify our community."
