Arbor Day: Newnan holds tree planting
By JOHN A. WINTERS
john@newnan.com
Newnan city officials, staff and members of the city Tree Commission planted an Overcup Oak at Willie Lynch Park off Wesley Street as part of Arbor Day activities Friday.
Also, the Georgia Forestry Commission presented the city with its Tree City USA designation, the 23rd consecutive year the city has been honored.
To qualify as a Tree City, the community must meet four standards established by The Arbor Day Foundation. Those include having a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
In a few weeks, in late March, the mayor, the city’s beautification department and the tree commission will visit each of the six elementary schools located in Newnan to meet with kindergarten classes to discuss the importance of trees.
Brady noted the program has been in existence for 12 years and “the original kindergarten class are now seniors.”
“Arbor Day and the Kindergarten Tree Planting Program hopefully bring the beauty and significance of trees to the public’s attention,” Furbush added. “The tree planting ceremonies held in various city parks and at the local elementary schools are events that we look forward to each year. The kids are quite enthusiastic, and it’s a lot of fun.”
