The City of Sanford Appearance Commission will celebrate Arbor Day on Thursday, November, 2, 2023, by planting trees in two Sanford parks.
To start the planting event, the public is encouraged to join City staff and Appearance Commission members at 10 a.m. in Depot Park to plant a Bloodgood Japanese Maple. The tree will be planted near the fountain where it will join another Bloodgood Japanese Maple at the park.
The event will then travel to Kiwanis Family Park to plant a Flame Thrower Redbud. This variety, which was created at N.C. State, will replace the Flame Thrower that was planted at Kiwanis Family Park for Arbor Day last year.
The purpose of Arbor Day is to increase awareness about the importance of trees to our community and environment, as well as to enhance our sense of place.
Holding an Arbor Day tree planting is a key component of Sanford’s Tree City USA designation, which it first earned in 2013. To maintain the recognition, the Appearance Commission “researches and recommends trees for public areas to enhance Sanford’s appearance and preserve the city’s tree canopy,” says Liz Whitmore, planner with the City of Sanford.
Previous plantings have been held at B.T. Bullock Elementary School, the Sanford Municipal Golf Course, and Maple Avenue Park, as well as at Depot Park and Kiwanis Family Park.
Thursday’s planting event is rain or shine.