Students, residents and elected officials gathered outside Reading High School Friday morning for a tree-planting ceremony in observance of Arbor Day and the City’s Tree City USA designation.
This year’s event celebrated the hard work of Reading High School students who planted a variety of trees forming a “Tree Tour” path, lead by teacher Kathy Manzella. Students also shared their knowledge about trees, followed by singing from RHS’s Choral Group.
The event also recognized the Arboretum Status of deciduous and coniferous trees on campus and the acknowledgement of Reading High School’s Silver Level Certification as an Eco-School through the National Wildlife Federation’s Program.
Trees are an asset to the community when properly planted and maintained. They help improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, reduce cooling costs, removing air pollutants, and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
The City has achieved Tree City USA designation by meeting the program’s four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member conservation and education non-profit organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.
