Thu 4/23-Wed 4/29
An interesting, under-the-radar movement is happening in our city.
A group that includes Western Reserve Land Conservancy’s Thriving Communities Institute, Holden Arboretum and the city of Cleveland has started the task of reforesting our city. (#ReforestOurCity).
Once recognized as “The Forest City,” Cleveland has been defoliated of its canopies. The city’s current tree canopy now stands at just 18.9 percent, making it the fourth-smallest in Cuyahoga County, according to a study funded by the U.S. Forest Service. The study shows that Cleveland’s canopy percentage lags well behind the suburbs and that the county’s overall canopy is 37.6 percent. Think about this — Cleveland now has so few trees that the city’s boundaries are visible on Google Earth.
The Land Conservancy’s Reforest Our City program, in conjunction with Holden and Cleveland, has started the task of planting thousands of trees in Cleveland’s neighborhoods and training residents to care for them. As a big reminder to all, trees are a vital part of the overall health to all cities: They save energy, reduce stormwater runoff, enhance property values, improve water quality and make our neighborhoods more attractive.
Here are some upcoming events planned around Arbor Day, April 24, and the celebration to launch the #ReforestOurCity program, celebrating the commitment to trees:
Thu 4/23 @ 5-8pm
The Land Conservancy is hosting “A Toast to Trees,” a tree-themed happy hour at Nano Brew (1859 W. 25th St.) in Cleveland’s Ohio City neighborhood. Nano Brew has partnered with the Land Conservancy to create a tree-themed beer in honor of their reforestation efforts. It’s a Gotlandsdricke brew, a beer indigenous to the Swedish island of Gotland, which has been brewed since the time of the Vikings. Juniper branches are boiled in brewing water and a portion of the malt is smoked over a birch wood fire. The resulting beer is a smoky spicy amber ale. Nano Brew will also have a cask of Market Garden Brewery’s Cluster Fuggle IPA with Spruce tips added!
Fri 4/24
The Terminal Tower will be illuminated with green light this night in honor of the reforestation work and the holiday.
Holden Arboretum celebrates Arbor Day with a ceremonial tree planting, tree seedling give-aways, Fridays in the Garden with community forester Chad Clink, and a free Arbor Day Lecture. View CoolCleveland video of Chad Clink here.
Sat 4/25
There will be tree-planting events in the Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood and at Whitesburg Park in Chagrin Falls happening this day.
Holden Arboretum celebrates with tree seedling give-aways, kids guided tree climb, scavenger hunt, seed planting, crafts, the Great Lakes Timer Show (log rolling, wood chopping, crosscut sawing, chainsaw carving), Discovery Pack backpacks for kids, guided walking tours, mobile app tours, food and beverage offerings, and Tree Professional experts on hand to answer your questions. View video of Holden community forester Chad Clink here.
Wed 4/29 @ 1-4pm
Pupils and volunteers from Cleveland’s Union-Miles neighborhood, Western Reserve Land Conservancy, Union Miles Development Corporation and the office of U.S. Rep. Marcia L. Fudge will plant 20 trees in the Miles Park School Learning Garden, just east of the school. Miles Park School is located at 4090 East 93rd Street near Harvard Avenue in Cleveland. Attendees should use the school’s Harvard Avenue parking lot.
These events are open to the public. Anyone who is interested and would like to get involved in reversing the trend of losing our trees in the city should participate in any or all of the above. For more info on any of the above events and to learn more on how you can get involved, visit Reforest Our City.
Thriving Communities Institute
Cleveland, OH 44113
Cleveland, OH 44105