Park District of Highland Park Encourages Residents to Celebrate Arbor Day
Release Date: Mar. 3, 2008
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., March 3, 2008— As the “Going Green” movement continues to gain momentum, Arbor Day is beginning to take its rightful place among more prominent holidays. The Park District of Highland Park is encouraging residents to take part in the holiday’s theme of planting and nurturing trees with an Arbor Day Tree Care Presentation & Seedling Giveaway at Heller Nature Center, and Tree Sale at West Ridge Center.
Arbor Day is traditionally celebrated in Illinois on the last Friday in April, and that’s when Heller Nature Center, located at 2821 Ridge Rd.in Highland Park, will have City Forester Larry King on hand to help event attendees learn about Highland Park’s oak savanna habitat as they tour the beautiful woodlands of the Nature Center. Participants of this free event will also learn the right way to plant a tree, see how an oak sprouts and grows, and take home a free seedling to plant in their own yard (while supplies last). This all-ages event will take place on Friday, April 25, from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Event participants already planning to attend include the Indian Trail Elementary School’s fourth-grade students taught by Merle Arenson. For the past four years, Arenson’s students have been involved in the District’s “Save Our Savannas” program, funded in part by the District 112 Education Foundation. The Arbor Day event at Heller will give these students a chance to observe the remnant savanna habitats at the Nature Center and see the many plants and trees they’ve studied in the classroom.
To top off its Arbor Day Celebration, the District is currently accepting tree orders from residents through May 5, 2008 at West Ridge Center, located at 636 Ridge Road in Highland Park. Trees are offered at the lowest prices available to residents and all orders feature free delivery within city limits. Tree species include Red Sunset Maple, Blue Colorado Spruce, River Birch, Douglas Fir, Pagoda Dogwood, Thornless Hawthorn, and more. A complete list of available trees, prices, and planting guide is available at West Ridge Center. For more information, call 847.681.2189 or visit www.pdhp.org.
About the Park District of Highland Park
The Park District of Highland Park, founded in 1909, operates and manages over 600 acres of land in 44 park areas and offers approximately 2,800 recreation and seasonal programs. Facilities include an indoor ice arena, indoor tennis and racquetball complex, two recreation centers, a nature center, an 18-hole golf course, driving range, adventure golf, aquapark, beaches, boat launch ramp and yacht club on Lake Michigan.
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