Bellevue to celebrate Arbor Day on Oct. 22

Published October 4 2022

The city is seeking volunteers for a native tree planting event to celebrate Arbor Day on Saturday, Oct. 22, 8:45 a.m.-noon at Bannerwood Park,1790 Richards Road. Register to volunteer at Environmental Stewardship Volunteering.

Volunteers will plant native trees such as Sitka spruce, Oregon ash and Pacific willow to restore habitat at the park. Community members will also remove noxious weeds like English ivy, which quickly spreads into healthy forests. Intervening to help the forest like this has positive, long-lasting benefits.

Healthy communities are composed of residents who actively engage in civic life and are compassionate and generous in supporting the community. Volunteering for Bellevue's Parks & Community Services is a good way to get involved in the management of local natural resources.

In 1872, Arbor Day started when Julius Morton, a member of Nebraska's State Board of Agriculture, proposed a day to plant and appreciate trees. While National Arbor Day is in April, cities and towns are encouraged to celebrate the day whenever it's best in their respective climates to plant trees.

Bellevue has had a rich tradition of celebrating Arbor Day-Earth Day in the spring, but it is switching to the fall because it's a better time to plant trees here.

One of the goals of the city's Environmental Stewardship Plan is to preserve Bellevue's existing tree canopy and form partnerships to plant 75,000 trees over the next 30 years.

Bellevue's nearly 1.5 million trees provide health, environmental and economic benefits. Trees contribute to Bellevue's character and to the health of its ecosystem. They also oxygenate the air, provide food and habitat for small animals and microorganisms and reduce the impacts of storm water runoff.

More information about the city's tree preservation and environmental stewardship efforts can be found at Trees.