The City of York will have twelve new trees in Penn Park in celebration of Arbor Day. The trees will be planted on Earth Day, April 22, 2024, on both sides of the tennis courts along Lafayette Street.
The City secured the twelve trees with the help of a $1,000 donation by the Garden Club of York and a $1,500 donation by WellSpan Health. Volunteers from the Garden Club of York and WellSpan Health will help plant the trees, clean up Penn Park’s Splash Pad Rain Garden, and attend to a corner garden in Penn Park during the day.
Tree plantings and volunteer work will begin early. The actual Arbor Day Celebration will begin at 11:00 am with speakers including City Forester Trace Wilson, Mayor Michael Helfrich, Garden Club President Jan Olsen, and WellSpan representative Emily Vajo. An Arbor Day Proclamation will be read and three remaining trees planted.
Trees can reduce the erosion of topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen, and provide habitat for wildlife. Trees in the City also increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of business areas, and beautify the community.
Because of the City’s care for its trees, York has been recognized as a Tree City USA for 40 consecutive years by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
