Mesa is set to ring in Arbor Day with a bevy of city-wide events as Mayor John Giles issued an Arbor Day Proclamation in a bid to cultivate a greener future. In a push that aligns with national celebrations, Giles outlined ambitions for a one million tree planting spree by 2050 with the aim to gift coming generations a lusher, more habitable Mesa, as the City's press release detailed.Tooling up with a variety of engagements across the metro area, city officials underscored their commitment to the cause and to educating the local populace on the esteemed role of trees in urban locales.
Students in the Mesa Public Schools won't just be spectators in the Arbor Day festivities, as they're in line for a stirring read of The Lorax by their Mayor and council members alongside Blue Palo Verde seeds to kick-start their botanic journey—information gleaned from the City of Mesa's announcement. But the effort leans hard into next month also, with May 3 witnessing eco-conscious seminars for younger learners at Step Up Schools, which culminates in a ceremonial tree planting, signaling the city's invested interest in nurturing eco-literate citizenry from the get-go.
Woven into the tapestry of this green jamboree is the Solid Waste Department's initiative celebrating recycling and trees, bestowing Red Push Pistache trees to all 29 schools that threw in with the annual Earth Day Contest, as per the city press release. To highlight the winners, a trio of the schools will host special ceremonies, while the 26 runner-ups will also see their new trees planted by the steady hands of school staff—an act that Municipal Environmental and Sustainability Director Scott Bouchie believes bridges communities and greenscapes, rooted in concerted collective action.
A recent feather in the city's cap is the community shade tree program, a fresh venture that partners Mesa with Trees Matter to extend a bough to residents in select neighborhoods, aiding them with the tools, know-how, and, most importantly, the trees—as reported by the city's communications. Adding to Mesa's green accolades is its 14th consecutive designation as a Tree City USA, rewarding its dedication to urban forestry and empowering it to keep the chain saws at bay and the tree spades at work. Those interested in Arbor Day details, tips, or joining in the celebration encouraged to visit mesaaz.gov/arborday.
