City Plants Trees In Honor Of Arbor Day

Arbor Day Plating members of the O'Neill Park Board planted a tree at Carney Park in honor of Arbor Day which was held last Friday, April 28. Pictured (l-r): Garret Lake, Joe Janousek, Jeff Schmeichel, Mayor Scott Menish and Leroy Lauridsen.

The City of O'Neill has planted a tree on Arbor Day as part of the tree city program. The city plants trees in both Ford as well as Carney Park and the Cemetery. The city is a member of the Tree City USA, which was  started in 1976. Tree City USA is one of the Arbor Day Foundation's oldest programs. Our founders had a vision for a greener, healthier America, and hoped this initiative would inspire change on a nationwide level.

The first Tree City USA cohort was comprised of 42 communities in 16 states. Today, the program includes more than 3,600 communities from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.

WHY BECOME A TREE CITY USA COMMUNITY?

A thriving urban forest offers many advantages to communities. Here are just a few:

Trees help absorb the sounds of traffic in urban areas by 40%.

Neighborhoods with trees are seven to nine degrees cooler than those without.

Trees reduce energy costs up to 25% by shading buildings and protecting them from winter winds.

Homes with trees have higher property values.

Green space plays a major role in improving mental and physical health.

Planting and maintaining trees absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, mitigating the effects of climate change.

Publicly demonstrating your commitment to the environment is a great way to build pride among residents, as well as position your community as an attractive place to live. To help you share your award, we send signs, flags, press releases, and other materials after your acceptance.

Arbor Day originated in Nebraska City, on April 10th, 1872 and was founded by J. Sterling Morton. It is estimated that more than 1,000,000 trees were planted on this day and has since been recognized as a day to plant and care for trees. Schools, community organizations and local authorities all over the world celebrate Arbor Day by cleaning up public parks, caring for trees, and planting trees.

Nebraska newspaper editor — and resident of Nebraska City, NE — J. Sterling Morton had an enthusiasm for trees and advocated strongly for individuals and civic groups to plant them. Once he became secretary of the Nebraska Territory, he further spread his message of the value of trees. And on Jan.4, 1872, Morton first proposed a tree planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day” at a meeting of the State Board of Agriculture.

The celebration date was set for April 10, 1872. Prizes were offered to counties and individuals for the largest number of properly planted trees on that day. It was estimated that more than one million trees were planted in Nebraska on the first Arbor Day.

Many other states also passed legislation to observe Arbor Day each year. By 1920, more than 45 states and territories were celebrating Arbor Day. And the tree planting tradition became prominent in schools across the nation in 1882, with schoolchildren learning about the importance of trees as well as receiving a tree to plant in their own yard.

Today Arbor Day is celebrated in all 50 states. The most common date for the state observance is the last Friday in April — National Arbor Day — but a number of state Arbor Days are at other times to coincide with the best tree planting weather, from January and February in the south to May in the far north.

And while Nebraska City, NE, is the official birthplace of the Arbor Day holiday, communities around the globe gather every year to celebrate trees and plant for a greener tomorrow. Find out when countries all over the world gather together to plant and celebrate trees.

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