HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017-10-10 Arbor Day Press Release 2017
David Timmons
City Manager
250 Madison, Suite 2
Port Townsend, WA 98368
360-379-5047 Fax 360-385-4290
dtimmons@cityofpt.us
PRESS RELEASE: Port Townsend Autumnal Arbor Day celebration 2017
Celebrate Arbor Day, United Good Neighbors Month of Caring, and the Urban Forestry
Restoration Project, all at the same time!
Arbor Day is traditionally recognized in April each year and is a celebration that arose in the US
midwest where planting is always a springtime ritual. In climates like ours, it is more beneficial
to celebrate Arbor Day and tree planting heading into our wet, mild autumn and winter rather
than in our late spring and typically very dry summer. Governor Jay Inslee declared the month of
October to be Washington’s Urban and Community Forestry month and to recognize Arbor Day,
Port Townsend Mayor Deborah Stinson will read a proclamation on Monday, October 16 at a
City Council meeting to declare October 22 as our official Arbor Day celebration; the
proclamation will be accepted by a member of the Port Townsend Parks, Recreation and Tree
Advisory Board. Port Townsend is a 16-year Tree City USA designation recipient, a status
conferred by Tree City USA, an Arbor Day Foundation program administered in Washington
state by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
As part of our commitment to maintaining healthy urban forests in Sather, Bishop, Chetzemoka,
Haller and Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Parks, the Parks department has utilized the DNR's Urban
Forestry Restoration Project (UFRP) in each of the last three years during which six-person
UFRP crews spent a month each year working on the removal of non-native and invasive
species. Although these services do not cost our city in terms of dollars, we are required to
provide maintenance and monitoring for three years following the crew effort. As a part of our
Arbor Day celebration for 2017 will take place on October 22 from 9
maintenance effort, our
am to noon on the northeast edge of Kah Tai Lagoon Nature Park
, in an area referred to as
Duck Heaven. The shoreline and uplands here are the best and most protected nesting habitat in
the park but they are impacted by invasive plant species. The UFRP work crew removed mature
Scot's broom and Himalayan blackberry in part of the Decatur right of way in early 2017, so this
will be the area we will work to maintain and improve.
In addition to the UFRP program, the Parks department relies on assistance from the local
Admiralty Audubon chapter, which is the Adopt A Park sponsor for Kah Tai Lagoon Nature
Park to help ensure our parklands are healthy. The chapter has planted and maintained hundreds
of native trees, shrubs and understory plants in the southern uplands of the park and holds
monthly work parties to improve Kah Tai’s habitat. Admiralty Audubon will lead the planting of
Garry oak (Quercus garryana) and Shore pine (Pinus contorta v. contorta) in the area cleared by
UFRP. In addition to the planting, celebratory event will also include installing protective wire
fencing around the trees to prevent deer predation and removal of Scot's broom plants and
Himalayan blackberries.
This year, our Arbor Day work effort has been included in the United Good Neighbors' Month of
Caring program, so we welcome participants choosing to support UGN by planting trees and
improving habitat. To join the celebration and work effort, enter at the Decatur Right of Way just
west of the Kearney/Blaine/19th Street intersection. For more information, contact Port
Townsend Parks and Facilities Director Alex Wisniewski at 379-5081 or
awisniewski@cityofpt.us or email admiraudub@gmail.com. Please bring a shovel and a bucket
and be prepared for uneven ground. Happy Arbor Day!
Photo: A few of Arbor Day work party participants who planted native trees and shrubs in the
Garfield right of way at Kah Tai, October 2016. (l-r) Brenda McMillan, her son Peter Martin,
Ron Sikes, Bob Tyer, Rick Jahnke and Jerry Gilbert.