An Arbor Day celebration will be Tuesday in Central Park. Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer will read an Arbor Day proclamation. There will be six trees planted in Warsaw, including two at the east shelter in Central Park, one tree in Kelly Park, two trees in Kiwanis Park and one tree outside the park’s office. The celebration will be at 9 a.m. at the east picnic shelter in Central Park. The trees are being donated by NIPSCO, and will be planted by Dogwood Hills Tree Farm employees. Warsaw Street Department employees will attend the ceremony and promote the park system and importance of planting trees. Warsaw is working to get a Tree City USA status. One of the requirements for the city to get the status is to have an Arbor Day celebration. Benefits of Tree City USA status include an enhanced public image, and a city being eligible to apply for grants for tree city projects and receiving funds for storm management response. Warsaw Park Board has approved the city working to become a Tree City. The city council will need to approve a tree ordinance, and form a tree board to qualify for the program. The application to be part of the program is not due until Dec. 31 to the Arbor Day Foundation. The Tree City USA is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forestry Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
