Students and community volunteers join Parks & Rec to celebrate Arbor Day with ceremonial tree plantings

Philadelphia Parks & Recreation celebrated Arbor Day with students at W.B. Saul High School and community volunteers in West Fairmount Park. This celebration is part of the ongoing effort to implement the newly-released Philly Tree Plan, the City's first-ever strategic plan for the equitable planting and care of our urban forest.

As a part of this year's celebration, Parks & Rec and Saul High School students planted a beautiful maple tree to honor Lori Maple Hayes, a proud Saul High School alumna, a committed civil servant for 42 years, and the Director of Urban Forestry at Philadelphia's Department of Parks & Recreation. A serviceberry tree was planted in anticipation of the undoubtedly extraordinary contributions the Saul High School class of 2023 will bring to the city and beyond. A third tree, a cherry tree, was planted to honor Nicholas Elizade, a Saul High School freshman who tragically lost his life due to gun violence last year.

In addition to the event at Saul, Parks & Recreation's stewardship team hosted a tree planting at the Horticultural Center in West Fairmount Park. Parks & Rec joined a group of 27 volunteers to plant 50 native trees and shrubs in celebration of Arbor Day.

The city of Philadelphia also received the Tree City USA Award for the 47th consecutive year. This year's award comes on the heels of Parks & Rec's launch of The Philly Tree Plan in February.