Town of Normal to celebrate Arbor Day with education, entertainment and tree planting

NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — Normal‘s Parks & Recreation Department will recognize Arbor Day with multiple activities over two days.

The activities start on Friday, April 24, said town spokeswoman Wendy Long. At 9 a.m., Park Maintenance Supervisor Tyler Bain will speak to fifth-grade students from Sugar Creek Elementary School about the importance of trees and how the town cares for them.

After the presentation, students in classrooms taught by Jen Lanham and Sierra Tellor will help plant a Tulip tree and a Shagbark Hickory at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

The Arbor Day activities continue at 10 a.m., Saturday, April 25, with a free showing of The Lorax (2012) at the Normal Theater. Tickets are available through the Normal Theater website.

The movie is presented in collaboration with the Bloomington-Normal Arbor Day Affiliates, Normal, the city of Bloomington, Illinois State University, Westminster Village and Heartland Community College.

Long said that while supplies last, attendees will receive one free tree sapling. They will be able to get either a young persimmon or a red osier dogwood, along with planting and care information.

Following the movie, the Parks and Recreation department will hold a community tree planting at Anderson Park. Those wanting to attend the planting can follow the Lorax-themed trees to the locations.

Additional Arbor Day activities will take place throughout the community, including Illinois Art Station’s Fourth Free Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Children’s Discovery Museum programming.

Long said the town received the Tree City USA designation by the Arbor Day Foundation for the 27th consecutive year.

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