PUBLIC TREE PLANTING
"Ten Free Trees" Grant Awarded!
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The Parks and Recreation Department was awarded a 'Ten Free Trees' grant for the fall of 2022. This is the second time the City of Wahoo has been selected for this grant. The Ten Free Trees program is sponsored and administered by the Nebraska Forest Service and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.
In an effort to stop the decline of community forest and increase community forest resilience, the Free Trees program grants up to 10 high quality trees for tree-related educational events and community celebrations promoting trees and fall planting. In addition to simply planting more trees, the program goals include increasing appreciation and awareness of the value of community forests in Nebraska. Special emphasis is placed on species diversity and higher impact projects, especially street tree planting and projects in neighborhoods of highest need.
Ten Free Trees is supported by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum’s Trees for Nebraska Towns Initiative funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust, and a U.S. Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration grant received by the Nebraska Forest Service.
The WP&R Department submitted and received a program award to plant ten trees at the new Hackberry Park expansion location. The Hackberry Park expansion project was completed in the summer of 2022 and includes two new baseball/softball fields with a restroom and concession building, additional parking, and new multi-purpose fields for soccer and flag football. The trees were planted in key areas to eventually provide park users and spectators shade during the events and activities at the park.
WP&R staff and several local community volunteers planted the ten trees in late September. Species included several Lindens, Elms, Cottonwoods, and Oaks as well as a Sycamore and Pecan tree.