(Portland,OR) –
Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) Urban Forestry are teaming up with Portland Public Schools to celebrate the start of the 2013 tree planting season at Vernon School in northeast Portland. PP&R Urban Forestry will help students in kindergarten, second and sixth grades plant nine new trees at the school. PP&R’s Urban Forestry staff will also repurpose a pair of 25-foot wood logs to serve as benches, part of Portland Parks & Recreation Community Wood ReUse Plan.
WHAT: PP&R and PPS Kick Off Tree Planting Season
WHEN: Friday, November 1, 2013, 11:00am–11:40am
WHERE: Vernon School, 2044 NE Killingsworth Portland, OR 97232
WHO: School Principal Tina Acker, students, faculty, parents and neighbors, Portland Parks & Recreation Neighborhood Tree Stewards
“This is a wonderful partnership between Portland Parks & Recreation andPortlandPublic Schoolsto plant trees, teach tree biology, and to build community,” says City Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz. “It is in line with our values of furthering green spaces and establishing dynamic programs and services that promote health and well-being for all.”
Vernon School students, parent volunteers and Portland Parks & Recreation staff will plant the trees. The event will also be a leadership opportunity for Brad Johnson’s 6th grade science class. The 6th grade students will work in groups of five to teach tree planting to kindergarten and first grade classes led by Ms. Maloney, Ms. Mashia, and Ms. Elwood. In total, 100 to 200 students will participate in the planting. Sixth graders will read a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Charlie Hales.
Schedule of Events:
-Mayoral Proclamation of the Start of the 2013-2014 Tree Planting Season
-Tree planting with assistance from Vernon students and teacher and Portland Parks & Recreation Youth Conservation Crew
-Environmental Tree Walk
-Installation of a new “Nature Sitting Area” with reused logs
-Prizes and giveaways including FREE tree seedlings
Proclamation from Mayor Charlie Hales to be Read by Students:
Whereas,Portland's citizens work year around to care for our trees: and
Whereas,Portland's trees work full-time to clean our air, filter our water, cool our city, beautify our streets; and
Whereas, according to a Portland Parks & Recreation study, the City’s tree canopy has grown by 2.6 percent over the past 10 years, and now covers nearly 30 percent of Portland; and
Whereas,Portland is located in a temperate climate with cool weather, rain in the winter, and very little snow; and
Whereas, each fall our trees lose their leaves, store up energy in their trunks and roots, and shut down for the season; and
Whereas, winter is the easiest and least stressful time on the tree to plant; and
Whereas, come spring, these new trees will leaf out, providing our citizens with shade and splendor;
Now, therefore, I, CharlieHales, Mayorof the City of Portland, Oregon, the “City ofRoses,” do hereby proclaim November 1, 2013 to be
the Start of 2013-2014 Tree Planting Season, and encourage all citizens ofPortlandto plant and care for trees this winter.