Arbor Day celebration Friday at Woodland Park

Kalispell is hosting an Arbor Day celebration at Woodland Park on Friday.

The theme “Throw Some Shade” will guide the day’s activities, including environmental education booths, park beautification, tree planting and an Arbor Day ceremony. Third-graders from School District 5 will participate in activities including tree planting.

The event begins at 9:05 a.m. and concludes at 2:30 p.m.

Community members are invited to attend for the formal Arbor Day ceremony and tree planting beginning at 9:20 a.m.

Throughout the day, volunteers will plant 30 trees in and around Woodland Park, while organizations such as Flathead Audubon Society, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Flathead Electric Co-op and many more will be on hand to help students learn about the importance of trees through science experiments and demonstrations.

The idea for Arbor Day originated in Nebraska in 1872, and is now widely celebrated in all 50 states as well as internationally.

Kalispell has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA for 36 years, meaning the city has a dedicated tree board and/or department, an ordinance for tree care, a community forestry program that financially invests in its trees and an Arbor Day proclamation and day of observance. Commonly observed the last Friday in April, Arbor Day provides an opportunity to plant trees and celebrate their importance in our cities and communities for their practical value as well as their contribution to our health and well-being.

Trees provide shade and lower air temperature, filter the air and provide oxygen, improve mental and physical health for the people who live near them. Studies have shown that people of all ages feel better when they spend time among trees.

Kalispell’s Arbor Day celebration is presented by the Kalispell Urban Forestry Committee in conjunction with the city of Kalispell Parks and Recreation Department.