COVINGTON, Ky. – Like to dig in the dirt? Think blacktop and concrete are prettier with a touch of green? Then Covington needs you this Saturday.
The city is recruiting volunteers to help plant nearly 50 trees along East 18th Street in celebration of Arbor Day 2018 and the city’s 14th year as a Tree City USA.
No special skills or tools are needed – just an interest in strengthening the urban canopy to improve health and the city’s beauty.
The trees will be planted from 9 a.m. to noon on East 18th between Garrard Street and Eastern Avenue in the Austinburg neighborhood. Volunteers should meet in the front parking lot of Sixth District Elementary at 1901 Maryland Ave.
Tools will be available on-site courtesy of Cincinnati Toolbank, but if you have a favorite shovel or digging tool, by all means bring it. Volunteers should also bring a water bottle and wear sturdy, close-toed shoes. Of course, since you’ll be digging in dirt and handling mulch, wear long pants and clothes that can get dirty.
The planting is sponsored by the Covington Urban Forestry Division and Urban Forestry Board in partnership with the Austinburg Neighborhood Association and Sixth District Elementary. It’s a family friendly event -- trees are in 15-gallon to 20-gallon containers and won’t be too difficult to move.
Registration is required, so please Register Here if you plan to attend!
Arbor Day – an annual observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives – has been marked with tree-planting festivals since 1872. The day of observance officially falls on April 27 this year, but cities typically time events to coincide with the best weekend to plant.
Covington’s recognition as a Tree City USA puts it in the elite group of communities actively working to promote trees as an integral element of the city’s infrastructure. In Covington, trees provide not only shade and beauty but also mitigate air pollution and retain storm water.
For more information about this event and other urban forestry initiatives, sign on to the Covington Urban Forestry Board Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/2050936525175869/ or contact Crystal Courtney at ccourtney@covingtonky.gov.