BOCA RATON, FL – October 15, 2019 – The City of Boca Raton is hosting its Annual Arbor Day Tree Planting Celebration at Patch Reef Park on Friday, October 18 at 9:30am. The park is located at 2000 Yamato Road and citizens are invited to attend for free. Patch Reef was the site of the 2017 Arbor Day celebration.
The event will be held to celebrate the City qualifying as a Tree City USA for the 39th consecutive year. The National Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the Association of State Foresters, recognizes more than 2,400 communities nationwide with this honor. Mayor Scott Singer will be accepting the award on behalf of the City presented by Mark Took of the Florida Forest Service.
For the second year in a row, the intergenerational event invites City Council, city staff and 55 Camp Boca campers who will participate in planting 16 slash pines with the help from members of the Boca Raton High School Taking Responsibility for the Earth and Environment (T.R.E.E.) Club and the City’s Beautification Committee. Last year, close to 100 people attended the Arbor Day event.
The recipient sites and trees are selected by the City’s Horticulturist and Arborist, Dawn Sinka, in an on-going effort to restore natural areas within the City. In 2012, the City reduced the size of the trees at Sinka’s suggestion. The change not only allowed the City to increase the number of trees it could plant on Arbor Day, but it provided a better opportunity for younger generations to participate. During the event, three to four campers are placed into planting groups with volunteers. Once the trees have been planted, the kids can place a tag on their tree bearing their name and the date it was planted.
“It’s not just about planting a tree, it’s about inspiring a generation,” said Sinka.
To qualify for a Tree City designation, the City must have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with a minimum annual budget, and have an annual Arbor Day observance and proclamation. Mayor Singer presented the Arbor Day proclamation at the October 7th City Council Workshop.
For more information about the Arbor Day Celebration, please contact Nora Fosman at 561-393-7960. Information about Right Tree Right Place, pruning guides and other helpful information can be found on the City's Sustainable Tree Maintenance webpage.
Contact:
Anne Marie Van Casteren
Public Relations Specialist
vancasteren@myboca.us
561-544-8521
