New plans for downtown trees in Minneapolis

From MinnPost.com, this story is a really interesting look at the usefulness of community trees; in Minneapolis, officials are following the lead of other large towns and cities across America to add new trees downtown.

In the top photo (a shot of busy Michigan Avenue in Chicago), we see how trees on some of the busiest downtown streets beautify the city, save energy, and help add vitality to the business district.

It’s exciting to see Minneapolis following that lead:

Leaves are dead and gone for the winter, but trees are not forgotten. Two major projects in Minneapolis aim to bring the city’s mostly drab downtown sidewalks up to date by adding rows of trees. The result should make segments of downtown – namely the Marquette/Second corridor and the North Loop – not only prettier for pedestrians but livelier for business and friendlier for the environment.

Compared with other economic development tools, planting trees “is a relatively inexpensive strategy,” Mayor R.T. Rybak told a gathering of the North Loop Neighborhood Association recently. “But, boy, does it pay off.”

Shady, tree-lined streets have become the norm in successful downtown districts across the country for a number of reasons: They moderate extreme temperatures, reduce storm water runoff, increase property values, create a superior walking atmosphere, calm auto traffic and lend a sense of pride and identity for workers, residents and visitors.

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The Arbor Day Foundation works through the Tree City USA program with towns and cities across our nation — no matter their size — to ensure beautiful, efficient urban areas and city design. This news is a great development for Minneapolis, which, incidentally, has been a Tree City USA for 29 years!

LJS: Morton Statue Will Greet U.S. Capitol Visitors

From a recent issue of the Lincoln Journal Star comes a report that a bronze statue of J. Sterling Morton, founder of Arbor Day, will stand in the new Capitol Visitor Center in Washington:

BY ASTRID MUNN / For the Lincoln Journal Star
WASHINGTON — A bronze statue of Nebraska’s Julius Sterling Morton — founder of Arbor Day — will be one of the first figures greeting the public when the Capitol Visitor Center opens in December.

The sculpture was one of 24 statues moved out of the Capitol and into the new center, which is designed to bring visitors out of the elements and into a 580,000-square-foot arena where they can eat and view historical exhibits before touring the Capitol itself.

Because the Capitol’s statue collection was beginning to look cramped now that all 50 states have donated two statues each, moving Morton’s statue should be considered an upgrade rather than a demotion, said Terrie Rouse, the center chief executive officer.
“We have shifted the statues to where they can be better appreciated,” she said.

If Morton was competing for attention in the Capitol, he doesn’t have to anymore.

The statue, which shows Morton with a sapling at his feet, stands in the lobby a few steps beyond the security check. In Morton’s left hand is the “History of Nebraska,” which he began to edit in 1897.

“Here at the foundation, we’re excited that many more people will become familiar with J. Sterling Morton and his visionary perspective on conservation here in America,” said Woodrow Nelson, vice president of communications for the National Arbor Day Foundation in Nebraska City.

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Tree Planting at Jackson State University

Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi was the site of the fourth event on the National Tree Planting Campaign, which kicks off the Arbor Day Foundation’s newest initiative, Tree Campus USA. 

October 28 was perfect for planting trees—sunny, cool, and full of energy from students ready to make their mark on campus. 

We opened the event with presentations from Arbor Day Foundation, Toyota and Jackson State University representatives, as well as members of the community.  All expressed their appreciation for the gift of 100 new trees for the Jackson State University campus and their excitement about being recognized as one of the first Tree Campus USA universities in the country, and the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) institution to receive this recognition.  Sr. Vice President, Troy Stovall received the Tree Campus USA recognition plaque and flag for the university. 

Many students had never planted a tree before and learned a lot about the process.  One student commented on how much work it really took to get it planted correctly, but was looking forward to coming back in the years to come to see how well it had grown.  And that’s the important part about these events—connecting students with their environment to foster the growth of the next generation of tree stewards. 

Thank you to all Jackson State volunteers and especially to the administration and facilities departments for all their work in planning and facilitating this event!  Go Tigers!

-Mary Widhelm