City of Highland Park issued the following announcement on April 8.
The City of Highland Park, in partnership with the Ravinia District, announces the 2nd annual Arbor Day Celebration on Saturday, April 27 from 9 AM to noon in Jens Jensen Park, at St. Johns and Roger Williams Avenues. Almost two dozen environmentally-friendly organizations and local businesses will offer activities and projects focused on planting and caring for trees, as well as energy saving, recycling, and composting information. The event is free, family-friendly, and open to the public.
Participating organizations and businesses have planned a variety of free children’s activities including Touch-A-Truck, raptor talk with live birds by Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab and Education, plant-a-seed station, craft projects, free bike and helmet safety checks for all community members (who are encouraged to ride to the event), and more. On a first-come, first-serve basis, adults can pick up free plants, shrubs, and trees, check out electric cars on display including an Audi and Porsche’s first electric car, and participate in an Ask the Expert question & answer session. Free paper shredding will be available in the Ravinia School circle drive located off of Roger Williams Ave. beginning at 8:30 AM until the truck is full. There is a limit of three bags/boxes of paper per vehicle.
“Our community values sustainable practices and is proud to consistently be named as a Tree City by the Arbor Day Foundation. This prestigious designation recognizes that cleaner air, improved storm water management, and increased property values are just some of the benefits of the program. Highland Park also received a Tree City Growth Award for the second year in a row for demonstrating environmental improvement and a higher level of tree care,” said Mayor Nancy Rotering. “Arbor Day is a wonderful opportunity to come together to celebrate our achievement and continue learning about the value of protecting our trees and environment.”
Highland Park has been designated a Tree City USA for the past 39 years by the National Arbor Day Foundation. A community earns this designation by having a tree board or department, having a city tree ordinance, maintaining a comprehensive forestry program and observing Arbor Day each year.
The City of Highland Park’s Sustainability Plan helps guide the City’s municipal operations by allowing the City to implement environmentally-friendly projects, create new policies, and embed sustainable practices and procedures within its departments. The Arbor Day Celebration meets the goals outlined in the plan. The plan is available at www.cityhpil.com/environment.
Schedule of Events
| 8:30 AM | Free Paper Shredding (ends at 11:30 AM or until the truck is full) |
| 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Touch-A-Truck, raptor talk with live birds by Northern Illinois Raptor Rehab and Education, plant-a-seed station, craft projects, free bike and helmet safety checks, free plants, shrubs, and trees, electric car display, and more. |
| 9:30 AM | Welcome – Highland Park City Council |
| 9:35 AM | Introduction of Highland Park Tree Campus K-12 Program – Arbor Day Foundation |
| 9:40 AM | Community Art Project Introduction – The Art Center Highland Park |
| 10:00 AM | Tree-Tastic Story and Song Time – Highland Park Library |
| 10:30 AM | Regional Perspective of Forestry – Morton Arboretum |
| 11:00 AM | Ask The Expert Panel Educational Discussions (come prepared with gardening and landscape questions) |
For more information on the City of Highland Park Arbor Day event, visit the City website at www.cityhpil.com/arborday or call the City Manager’s office at 847.926.1000.
Like and follow Ravinia District of Highland Park and the City of Highland Park on Facebook for other upcoming events including the 3rd Annual Food Truck Thursdays with Music in the Park June 6 through September 12, and new Bags League at Food Truck Thursdays, June 20 through September 5.
About the Ravinia District
The Ravinia District is comprised of an eclectic mix of small-scale businesses, popular restaurants, and food specialty shops, and high-end personal and professional services. All located within a few walkable blocks, this creative, quaint, friendly and historic neighborhood offers nearly anything a person might be looking for. A lovely location to dine before or after visiting the Ravinia Festival or the Chicago Botanic Garden, Ravinia District is just east of Green Bay Road in Highland Park on Roger Williams Avenue and hosts the Ravinia stop on the Metra train service.
Ravinia District’s historic roots as a getaway from Chicago for artists and other creative people led to its establishment as an artists’ colony.
Original source can be found here.
Source: City of Highland Park
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