Communities across ATC’s service area are ‘digging’ Arbor Day
Ah…Arbor Day. It doesn’t invoke nearly the same zeal as Labor Day or Memorial Day, though perhaps it should. Arbor Day originated in Nebraska in 1872, where it’s estimated that approximately one million trees were initially planted to commemorate it.
While their numbers won’t reach millions, the cities of De Pere and Stevens Point, Wis., have planted dozens of trees in their communities to mark the day and the funding they received from ATC through our Community Planting Program, which is part of ATC’s Grow Smart® initiative.
Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza was aided by local third graders in planting ten trees on a city boulevard. In De Pere, students from a local elementary school partnered with the city par
ks department to plant 12 fruit trees on the school’s property.
Thirty-seven other communities received funding in 2015 for a total of $60,000 through the Community Planting Program, which is now in its fourth year. To qualify, communities must apply and agree to plant the trees and other vegetation outside of high-voltage transmission line rights-of-way and commit to complying with ATC’s maintenance standards for all current and future planting plans.
By making their communities greener, they’re also doing their part to keep the lights on – just by planting their trees away from power lines.
