THUNDER BAY – Even though they’re often taken for granted, trees can have many benefits in community neighbourhoods.
The city, along with the Clean, Green and Beautiful Committee, celebrated Arbor Day with a morning tree planting at the Parkdale Park Saturday morning.
Lee Amelia, an urban forestry program specialist with the city, said Arbor Day is a time to stop and think about the benefits of greenspace within populated areas.
“It’s a day when we can help residents connect with what the city is doing with urban forestry,” Amelia said. “Trees provide great shade, it’s going to produce a more vibrant community atmosphere in this park.”
About 20 new trees were planted in the park in advance of the day by the city’s landscaping contractor.
This marks the ninth year Arbor Day has been celebrated in Thunder Bay, and second straight planting has been done in Parkdale. Previous sites included Boulevard Lake and near the Memorial Avenue and Beverley Street intersection.
Residents who volunteered were tasked with spreading mulch and fertilizer, watering the trees and installing stakes to protect them as they grow.
The activity helps teach residents the steps required to successfully plant trees on their own.
The trees that were planted were purchased by the Clean, Green and Beautiful Committee’s Emerging Projects Fund.
Committee member Shannon Costigan said there are a number of benefits associated with having a quantity of trees.
“Healthy urban forests help purify air, manage storm water and beautify our neighbourhoods,” she said.
“Adding the trees to Parkdale Park really does add value to the neighbourhood. It increases property values and gives people a beautiful space to work with.”
Neebing Coun. Linda Rydholm was among those in attendance and participating. She said it’s a good sign of progress for the subdivision, which is expected to grow to about 700 homes within the next few years.
“I think it’s very encouraging for the neighbourhood to see their neighbourhood park improved every year, whether it’s with playground equipment, boarded rink in the wintertime, basketball hoops, an open field and these trees,” she said.
“It’s positive for people to see these improvements.”
