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.
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On Arbor Day, the Johnny Appleseed Metro Park District annually plants a tree to recognize a person or organization. This year, they selected the Allen County Fair, which is marking its 175th anniversary.
The City of Lima’s annual Arbor Day celebration will carry added significance this year, as it hosts the first ceremonial tree planting in Ohio’s 88 counties as part of the America 250-Ohio commemoration.
The tree commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and their long-standing history of preserving nature in Ohio. Members of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Johnny Appleseed Metropolitan Parks District helped dig the hole for tree and replace the soil and lay down the mulch.
Each year, the city picks a different school building to place a new tree at, and the students join in on the celebration with speeches and poems. Plus, Mayor Sharetta Smith issued a proclamation in honor of Arbor Day. The National Arbor Foundation has named Lima a Tree City USA, and officials want the students to understand the importance a tree can have where they live.
The City of Lima's Parks, Recreation, and Forestry Department will be planting a tree on Friday, adding to the city's tree canopy. Trees provide shade, temperature regulation, and air purification and can help reduce localized flooding in neighborhoods. The city makes sure to include a local school in their tree planting for educational value.
March 27, 2024 Press Release from the City of Lima: For the 36th consecutive year, the City of Lima is being recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. This award highlights Lima’s ongoing commitment to effective urban forest management, and that planting and caring for trees is a priority for our community.
March 25, 2024 Press Release from the University of Findlay: University of Findlay to host Homegrown Habitat event featuring renowned author, native plant specialist, and conservationist Doug Tallamy. This event helps celebrate Earth Day and Arbor Day, as Tallamy shares his passion for the use of native plants to support food webs, and his efforts to bring nature back to our homes. His efforts have influenced the discourse on gardening in America and he has gained global recognition by his presence on the New York Times bestseller list.
Megan Scheid, St. Charles Principal adds, “We’ve been working so much on our Catholic Social Teachings with an emphasis on the care of GOD’s creation and how important it is for us to take care of our earth, all of our natural resources and just taking care of our planet. So, not only can we enjoy it here leaving that legacy for our children and our grandchildren moving forward.”
The Johnny Appleseed Metro Park District has found a unique way to mark their 50th anniversary and celebrate Arbor Day at the same time. This year during their annual tree planting for Arbor Day, the park district created an anniversary loop in the Evan's Arboretum at the Ottawa Metro Park. In the quarter mile loop, there are 50 different species of tree. The park staff planted the final tree Friday, a Sugar Maple, to complete the loop. Beside each tree there is a plaque that tells what kind of tree it is, and a QR Code that will link you to the Johnny Appleseed website, which has more information about that type of tree. Officials hope that people take the time to enjoy the trees and the parks during their anniversary and years to come.