Consider Arbor Day Project(s)

While the City has yet to receive confirmation, the necessary documentation was submitted to be recognized once again as a Tree City USA. This will be Ramsey's 26th consecutive year being recognized.  One of the aspects of being a Tree City USA involves an observance of Arbor Day.  When the City stopped hosting the Environmental Expo event, the Board expressed a desire to see a broader effort put toward observing and celebrating Arbor Day.  There are a couple opportunities available to recognize and observe Arbor Day.  The purpose of this case is to summarize the opportunities to the Board and gauge the interest of the Board in participating.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a variety of seedlings that can be used for a planting project by a community.  Some of the tree species would certainly be appropriate for use in Ramsey (Jack Pine, Swamp White Oak, and Bur Oak).  They are also offering a Pollinator Packet of shrubs, which would include a mixture of Chokecherry, Highbush Cranberry, Juneberry, Red-Osier Dogwood, and Wild Plum.  Staff is in the process of exploring a couple potential options for a group-style planting event that either would 'convert' an underutilized part of a park from turf to more of a woody/wooded setting (long-term, this landscape would require less maintenance) or provide more of a buffer or transition between residential lots and a public trail.  If the Pollinator Packet were ordered, there's the added benefit of creating additional habitat for a variety of pollinators, which is consistent with the EPB's Work Plan.

Another potential planting opportunity would be to replace the oak tree that had been planted within the native landscape adjacent to a trail connection in the Brookfield neighborhood.  This site had actually been used for an Arbor Day planting in 2016, but unfortunately the tree did not survive.  This is an ideal location though based on the amount of foot traffic through the neighborhood and along Trott Brook Trail.

These are just a couple of possibilities for Arbor Day related activities.  If the Board has additional suggestions, this would be a good opportunity to discuss those as well.  Moreover, this might be a good opportunity for the Board to strategize about future Arbor Day activities it feels would be beneficial to the community.

No specific action is required.  This case is intended to be a broad overview of current planning efforts to observe Arbor Day.