Avon Lake Citizens Tree Commission Tree Sapling Give-Away

04/26/2022 – On April 29, cities and towns around the United States will be celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Arbor Day and the 50th anniversary of the Arbor Day Foundation. To commemorate this special day, Avon Lake’s Citizens Tree Commission will be distributing free tree saplings to fifth grade students at Troy Intermediate School and St. Joseph Parish School.

Terry Robison, Chair of Avon Lake’s Citizens Tree Commission, initially approached Mackenzie Hall, Principal of Troy Intermediate School, about distributing the seedlings to students. It was well received, and has since expanded to include students at St. Joseph Parish School.

Lubrizol Corporation has generously donated approximately 300 swamp white oak saplings for this program. Avon-on-the-Lake Garden Club, Avon Lake High School’s Key Club, and members of Avon Lake’s Environmental Affairs Advisory Board will help assemble and package the saplings to be distributed to students.

Arbor Day is a holiday during which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant trees. The holiday originated in Nebraska in 1872, but is now celebrated nationally and in many other countries. On an upcoming episode of the City of Avon Lake’s podcast, “Avon Lake Matters,” Mr. Robison states, “It is fulfilling to watch these trees grow. Trees do so much for us. We love the looks of them, the shade they provide, and their flowers. They improve our air quality, enhance the environment, and provide homes for wildlife. Trees are now showing to be a really important mitigator of climate change by storing carbon for a long time. The list goes on and on for what trees provide for us.”

Avon Lake is proud to have been recognized for 28 years by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA, and we are happy to be working with the students of Troy Intermediate School at St. Joseph Parish School, to commemorate Arbor Day 2022 – the 150th anniversary of Arbor Day and the 50th anniversary of the Arbor Day Foundation.