Festivities for the trees; Coeur d'Alene Arbor Day celebration is April 29

COEUR d’ALENE — The city of Coeur d’Alene is inviting the community to an Arbor Day celebration April 29 in McEuen Park.

The festivities will begin near the Harbor House with a tree planting at noon, followed by an Arbor Day ceremony at 12:45 p.m. City officials will receive a Tree City USA award for the 33rd consecutive year.

The Tree City USA award is given by the National Arbor Day Foundation to communities that meet four criteria in the care of public trees: 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 2016, the city planted 921 public trees and an additional 700 seedlings were planted on Tubbs Hill.

Coeur d’Alene has been awarded a 2017 Arbor Day Grant of $300 from the Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association, which assists in purchasing trees for planting at the Arbor Day event. The Arbor Day grants are sponsored by the Idaho Nursery and Landscape Association in cooperation with the Idaho Department of Lands, Avista, Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power.

Snacks, cake, coffee and punch will be served, compliments of Sun Valley Tree Service in celebration of 145 years of Arbor Day.

For information about any of these events, contact urban forestry coordinator Katie Kosanke at 769-2266 or visit www.cdaid.org/parks.