LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) — In honor of Arbor Day and the upcoming 250th birthday of the United States, the City of Lima now has a living tribute planted in its soil.
The program aims to honor the state’s past, shape its present, and leave a lasting environmental legacy for the future.
Representatives from America 250-Ohio, the state commission charged with planning Ohio’s part in the nation’s Semiquincentennial celebration, visited Lima on Friday to help plant a white oak tree at Lima Stadium Park.
The white oak — a native species to Ohio — is part of the “Heritage Trees” initiative, which will see a tree planted in each of Ohio’s 88 counties. The program aims to honor the state’s past, shape its present, and leave a lasting environmental legacy for the future.
“Trees are pretty amazing,” said Todd Kleismit, executive director of America 250-Ohio. “There is the symbolism with the American Revolution and the Liberty Tree. One of my favorite sayings of all time is that a tree is a hopeful thing. It’s about a hopeful act for the future, and the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is now.”
Lima was the first city in Ohio selected to receive a heritage tree under the initiative — an honor not lost on city officials.
“We hear a lot about the larger cities, the big C’s across Ohio,” said Lima Mayor Sharetta Smith. “So for a city like Lima to be recognized as the first for others to follow is such an honor. We're not strangers to being the first. We were one of the first cities to have street rail cars. We were one of the first cities where oil was discovered.”
The Heritage Tree program is made possible through support from Cenovus Energy. More information about Ohio’s role in the America 250 celebration can be found at america250-ohio.org.
