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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – A number of tree-themed events are planned in southwest Missouri in April to celebrate Missouri Arbor Day (always the first Friday of April) which is April 3, and National Arbor Day (always the last Friday of April) on April 24. Arbor Day, which was first held in 1874 and was the creation of Nebraska newspaper editor J. Sterling Morton, is an annual event designed to raise people's awareness of the importance of trees. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is one of the agencies that oversee and help coordinate Arbor Day events in Missouri.
Here is a list of events in southwest Missouri that MDC is participating in:
At 4 p.m. on April 3 at City Park in Willard, the city of Willard will be recognized as a Tree City USA for the 17th year.
At 1 p.m. on April 8 in Springfield at Missouri State University, a tree will be planted next to Karl's Hall.
At 11 a.m. on April 10 in Springfield at Drury University, the school will receive its first-ever Tree Campus USA award at Lay Hall.
At 4:30 p.m. on April 10 in Springfield on the City Square, the city will be recognized as a Tree City USA for the 30th year. Also that day, as part of Springfield's "30 Trees for 30 Years" event, trees will be planted at various locations around the city.
Also at 4:30 p.m. on April 10 in Springfield on the City Square, City Utilities of Springfield will receive Tree Line USA recognition.
At 2 p.m. on April 24 in Branson at Stockstill Park (625 Stockstill Lane), the city of Branson will be recognized as a Tree City USA for the 20th year.
At 5:30 p.m. on April 24 in Republic at J.R. Martin Park (300 E. Hines), Empire District Electric will give away trees to their customers as part of Empire's Tree Line USA celebration.
At 7:30 a.m. on April 25 in Springfield at the Springfield Botanical Gardens at Nathaniel Greene Park (2400 S. Scenic Ave.), the Greene County Master Gardeners will have a plant sale and Arbor Day event.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 25 in Springfield at the Second Baptist Church in Springfield (3111 E. Battlefield Ave.), Springfield Victory Mission will be giving away trees and tree seeds with a donation of used clothing.
At 1:30 p.m. on April 28 in Ash Grove at City Park (310 E. Parkway St.), the city of Ash Grove will be recognized as a Tree City USA for the ninth year.
For more information about these events, contact Missouri Department of Conservation Community Forester Cindy Garner at 417-895-6881, ext. 1632 or at Cindy.Garner@mdc.mo.gov. Information about the benefits of trees can be found at mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/trees-work.
