The community is invited to celebrate Arbor Day this Saturday (April 26) by volunteering to plant trees. Tree-planters will gather at the Shadow Wood subdivision on the corner of Honeysuckle Drive and Lunceford Lane at 9:45 a.m.
Members of the Shadow Wood Homeowners Association, as well as local Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts have already pledged to pitch in and plant 26 trees. No experience is necessary; volunteers will be supervised by experienced tree planters, including arborists, foresters, and members of the city’s Urban Forestry Committee.
Flowering pear, hackberry and Serbian spruce trees are being planted to enhance the street and neighborhood.
“Besides beautifying the neighborhood, these trees will provide environmental benefits such as cooling shade, stormwater mitigation and the filtering of pollutants, said Coeur d’Alene urban forestry coordinator Katie Kosanke.
The planting project also includes a new water meter and the installation of drip irrigation to water the trees, provided by the homeowners themselves.
At noon, there will be a ceremony and free hamburger lunch sponsored by Sun Valley Tree Service, at nearby North Pines Park (1015 Lunceford Ln). The winners of the Arbor Day button art contest and poster contest will be recognized.
Coeur d’Alene will also be presented with a Tree City USA award from the National Arbor Day Foundation. This will be the 30th consecutive year Coeur d’Alene has received the recognition.
There will also be a display of the Arbor Day button and poster art, door prizes, and tree care information. Free tree seedlings will also be given away. Volunteers can sign up and get more information by contacting the Parks Department at 769-2266 or pick up an event flyer at City Hall, 710 Mullan Ave.