Round Rock Parks and Recreation’s Arbor Day, slated for Saturday, April 25 includes the planting of 164 trees along more than 1 mile of Old Settlers Park Trail behind the Dell Diamond.
Arbor Day tree planting volunteers will arrive at 9 a.m. to sign in, hear welcoming remarks and an Arbor Day Proclamation and then set out to plant trees along more than 1 mile of trail corridor. The trees include 6 Monterrey Oaks, 18 Chinquapin Oak, 24 Bur Oak, 26 Shumard Red Oak, 33 Live Oak 19 Cedar Elm, 11 Lacey Oak, 13 Pecan, three Possumhaw Holly and 5 Texas Redbuds to create variety along the trail. The Arbor Day planting will complete the park development and beautify the park providing shade for years to come.
The event, hosted by Round Rock Parks and Recreation is possible thanks to participation from local civic clubs and organizations as well as City of Round Rock staff, Round Rock Volunteer Center, community volunteers and citizens. Mayor Alan McGraw will read the Council Proclamation at the council meeting on April 23.
“I get excited every year Arbor Day comes around because trees are so important to the beautification of Round Rock and the environment,” said Forestry Manager Emsud Horozovic. “With trees planted every year at Arbor Day, the community works together to improve our city.”
To sign up as a volunteer to help at the Arbor Day Celebration, please call the Round Rock Volunteer Center at 733-7625 or visit www.volrock.org. If you have questions about the event, or trees in general, call Emsud Horozovic, Round Rock Forestry Manager at (512) 341-3350.
Directions to Arbor Day planting: From IH- 35 take HWY 79 East towards the Dell Diamond. Turn left on Harrell Parkway into Old Settlers Park. Turn right into the Dell Diamond parking lot (follow the signs) to Arbor Day.
Volunteer Perks: Free T-shirt, seedlings, and breakfast bagels while supplies last
in addition to complimentary biscuits and coupons from Chick-Fil-a. All volunteers also get a certificate for 2 cubic yards of free mulch from Round Rock Brush Recycling Center.
History of Arbor Day: Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care. Arbor Day’s founder J. Sterling Morton was a Nebraskan journalist who loved nature and used his paper to spread his enthusiasm for trees back in the 1800’s. In the words of Morton, “all the people strive on Arbor Day to plant many, many trees, both forest and fruit. May the day and the observance thereof be cherished in every household, and its name and fruits become as a shower of blessing to the long lines of generations who shall succeed us. Texas Arbor Day is Friday, April 24 so Round Rock will celebrate on Saturday, April 25 with volunteer help.
Tree Benefits: Trees can reduce the erosion of precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce life-giving oxygen, provide habitat for wildlife and beautify our community. Trees are a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires and are a source of joy and spiritual renewal wherever they are planted. Arbor Day is celebrated on a date appropriate for tree planting in each region of the United States.
