To kick off the City’s Arbor Day celebrations this month, the Grover Beach City Council adopted an Arbor Day proclamation during the April 12th Council meeting that recognizes the importance of planting trees and the environmental and economic value they provide, as well as encouraging the community to plant and care for trees and join in the City’s Arbor Day celebrations.
“Arbor Day has been an important Grover Beach staple for many years now,” said Jeff Lee, Grover Beach Mayor. “We are thrilled to be able to help keep the tradition alive by planting new trees in our community over this next year to enhance our tree canopy.”
Arbor Day, which takes place the last Friday in April, began in 1872 when J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. During its very first celebration in Nebraska, prizes were offered to those who properly planted the largest number of trees that day.
In that same spirit the City of Grover Beach will plant a series of new trees along West Grand Avenue this month including on Arbor Day itself on April 30. This will also be the official launch to the City’s community tree planting initiative to plant 60 new trees in Grover Beach in honor of the City’s recent 60th anniversary as an incorporated city. Residents, business owners and community groups can contribute to this goal by planting their own trees throughout the year. Tips on how to select, plant and care for new trees can be found on the Arbor Day Foundation website.
Residents can also participate in the #GroverBeachArborDay challenge, which runs through the last day of April, to be eligible for a limited-edition Arbor Day themed goodie bag, water bottle or tote bag (while supplies last). To participate, residents can simply snap a photo of themselves with their newly planted tree or showing some extra love to already-planted trees by giving them a hug, and then posting to social media using #GroverBeachArborDay. Photos can also be emailed to GBparks@GroverBeach.org. These photos will then be shared with the community across the City’s social media accounts on Arbor Day.
Participants in the #GroverBeachArborDay challenge can pick up their swag bags from the Grover Beach Parks and Recreation office at 1230 Trouville Avenue, Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“As a renewable resource, trees are vital to everyday life from providing paper to a roof over our heads,” said City Manager Matthew Bronson. “With this in mind, we look forward to Grover Beach residents joining us in celebrating trees this month and to seeing all the fun photos.”
From an economic and social perspective, trees can help increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas and beautify the community. Additionally, trees reduce the erosion of precious topsoil from wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife.