A group of about 70 people celebrated Arbor Day on Thursday by planting a ceremonial tree with a golden shovel.
Gainesville celebrated the holiday and its 33rd year as a city recognized for being tree-friendly by planting 66 more trees at Evergreen Cemetery, said Anita Spring, the chair of the Arbor Day event.
Gainesville is designated as a Tree City USA, a distinction given by the Arbor Day Foundation to cities that meet certain standards of tree friendliness, or cities with plans to take care of trees, she said. Gainesville is one of the cities that has held the title longest in Florida.
She said Gainesville’s thriving tree population benefits the community.
“We think that provides a large number of things to citizens in our area besides beauty,” she said.
The annual celebration brought together multiple city departments to promote the importance of nature, said Bob Woods, the City of Gainesville’s communications and marketing director.
“We have been very fortunate to live in a community that respects and understands the value of preserving our environment,” Woods said.
Spring has been involved in planning Arbor Day events since 1994.
At the ceremony, each guest was encouraged to use the gold-painted shovel to scoop some of the dirt and help plant the tree, she said.
“The community really participates in this,” she said. “Everyone enjoys it.”
@romyellenbogen
rellenbogen@alligator.org
Selena Patterson, a member of the City of Gainesville Beautification Board, helps her 2-year-old daughter, Scarlet, plant a tree for the City of Gainesville Arbor Day Celebration at the A. Quinn Jones House on Thursday. The Arbor Day celebration had live music, a light lunch and a free tree giveaway.
