In celebration of Arbor Day, the Beautification Department of the City of Newnan, the Newnan Tree Commission, and Mayor Keith Brady are visiting each of the City’s five local elementary schools to meet with each schools’ kindergarten classes to emphasize the value of trees. This is the 7th year the program has been in existence.

Mayor Brady welcomes the students to the Tree Planting Ceremony and introduces special guests. Mike Olmstead, the Labor Supervisor with the Beautification Department, leads an interactive discussion with the students on the importance of trees, different types of trees, and how to plant and care for trees. A tree is then planted on the school grounds in honor of that kindergarten class, and a plaque is installed to commemorate the date and the class. The students are encouraged help take care of the tree and to watch the tree grow as they grow.

School visits will include Newnan Crossing, Atkinson, Jefferson Parkway, Ruth Hill, and Elm Street. All students are given a small dogwood tree to take home and plant. Smokey Bear, with representatives from the Georgia Forestry Commission, also attends the ceremonies and visits with the children.

A Tree Planting Ceremony will also be held at the new Greenville Street Park in which the city of Newnan will receive the Tree USA award by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the 18th consecutive year.

“Arbor Day hopefully brings the beauty and significance of trees to the public’s attention. Learning at such a young age, and the Tree Planting Ceremonies held at the local elementary schools are events that we look forward to each year. The kids are quite enthusiastic, and it’s a lot of fun,” said Mike Furbush, the city’s Landscape Architect and Arborist.

Arbor Day is celebrated in Georgia on the third Friday of February.

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