Breaking News
Community

Wheeling Tree Board Holds Arbor Day Planting at Dog Park

By ERIC AYRES 4 min read

WHEELING - They didn’t plant a dogwood tree, but members of the Wheeling Municipal Tree Board instead selected two native species of trees to plant at the Fitzsimmons Family Dog Park in celebration of Arbor Day on Friday.

The annual tree planting took place at the recently reopened dog park at the Tunnel Green Recreation Complex during a summer-like day that had several visitors and their four-legged companions frolicking about. Tree Board Chairwoman Karen Cox noted that Mother Nature promises to water the two new saplings this weekend - making it a perfect time for them to take root.

"Arbor Day is a day that’s designed to celebrate trees and the many gifts that they give to us," Cox said. "Every day, our trees are cleaning the air, keeping us protected from flood waters and giving us fresh oxygen to breathe."

The annual holiday was designed to help raise awareness about the benefits of trees, and to celebrate them, Cox said. In Wheeling, trees have been planted on Arbor Day at various parks and public places in the city. This year, the Tree Board threw the dog park a bone with two new trees.

"We’re planting trees here mainly because we’re losing a lot of the big trees that were here once the park was established," she said, noting that both dogs and people appreciate the shade at the park. "We’re just trying to replace shade that was lost due to the construction of the park here."

Cox explained that any time roots are buried under several feet of soil, they tend to suffocate. These new trees were planted at the current soil level, she said.

National Arbor Day always falls on the last Friday in April, but every state has a different Arbor Day observance that is based on the best time of year to plant a tree there. In the Mountain State, that date is April 14.

The new trees were both planted Friday afternoon in the large dog section of Wheeling’s flagship dog park. An October glory red maple tree, which will be brilliant red in the fall, was planted, as was an American linden or basswood, which will be covered in beautiful flowers in the spring. The American linden - also known as the "bee tree" - is known to attract butterflies, lightning bugs, and of course, bees.

"That’s why it’s being planted down there," Tree Board member Karen Jaunsen said, noting that the flowering "bee tree" will grow at the very far end of the park to keep the dogs and their owners separated from too much buzzing activity. The eye-popping blooms from the American linden and the buzzing bees are known to combine to make a sweet batch of honey, officials said, adding that on the other end of the calendar - autumn is a true showtime for the maple tree.

"We selected the October glory red maple cultivar to have its brilliant, blood-red, crimson foliage in the fall," said Urban Forrest Coordinator Robert Hannah of the W.Va. Division of Forestry, which provided the trees for planting.

The city of Wheeling earlier this month officially enacted the city code that outlines the purpose and powers of its newly formed Municipal Tree Board.

"There are many benefits of an urban canopy of trees - including shade, improved aesthetics, natural stormwater management, increased property values and an improvement of air quality," said Wheeling Vice Mayor Chad Thalman, a member of the Tree Board. "This is what we had in mind when the Tree Board was established."

Thalman said the recently adopted legislation will give the Tree Board the ability to continue its work on improving the health and longevity of city owned trees.

"This will also make it possible for the city of Wheeling to apply for Tree City USA status," Thalman noted. "Being a Tree City USA provides national recognition and will open the opportunity to get more grant funding to help care for our urban ecosystem."

Citizens are welcome to get involved with the Municipal Tree Board’s activities, which take place year-round - not just on Arbor Day.

"The Wheeling Tree Board does a lot of volunteer work for the city, and we’re always looking for new volunteers," Cox said. "So if people love trees and they want to come get engaged with us, they can reach us at treeboard@wheelingwv.gov."

Starting at /week.