Joliet Named Tree City USA For 30th Consecutive Year – Arbor Day Celebration And Poster Contest Winners Announced
Friday, April 30, 2021 has been proclaimed Arbor Day in the City of Joliet with an official celebration taking place on Earth Day, April 22, 2021 at Woodland Elementary School, under the leadership of Principal Kim Gordon. A small group of students, following Covid precautions, will participate in a tree planting ceremony. The Arbor Day tree, a chinquapin oak was donated by Com Ed who has donated a total of 60 trees to multiple municipalities for Arbor Day, 2021, with a focus on areas hardest hit by the August 2020 derecho windstorm. Joliet was given five trees. ComEd customers can get two free trees of their own at www.arborday.org/comed and get information on safe planting techniques at www.comed.com/trees.
Winners of the Arbor Day Poster Contest, coordinated by Joliet District 86 art teacher Rene Fitz-Henley are: Eduardo Arriaga, Antonella Contreras, Carolina De La Torre, Madison Esters, Isabella Garcia, Lesli Navarrete, Sofia Paramo, Monica Reyes, DeAsia Stevenson, and Saory Wong.
Winning posters will be shown at the April 20 City Council Meeting.
The National Arbor Day Foundation recently recognized the City of Joliet for achieving the designation of “Tree City USA” for the 30th consecutive year. 2021 is the 7th year of a 10-year growing contract that provides funds to plant 1,000 trees each year in Joliet’s public areas.