LAS VEGAS (FOX5) -
Mayor Pro Tem Stavros S. Anthony, a first- and second-grade class from Eileen Conners Elementary School and City of Las Vegas staff will plant a shoestring acacia tree starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 9, in Majestic Park in honor of Arbor Day.
The students will also bury a time capsule with the tree.
Majestic Park is located at 3997 Hualapai Way.
The tree will be planted near the Hualapai and Alexander Road entrance.
Laura Eisenberg, a community forester with the Nevada Division of Forestry, will present the city with a Tree City USA flag, marking the 20th year Las Vegas has earned this recognition from the National Arbor Day Foundation because of the program to care for community trees.
Trees enhance air quality, reduce energy consumption and costs, provide habitat for wildlife, increase property values, and beautify the community.
"I am looking forward to sharing this tree planting with the children of Eileen Connors Elementary School," said Anthony.
"We'll be educating the children while we add a beautiful flowering evergreen that is tolerant of our desert climate to this great park. Adding drought-tolerant trees is part of the city's sustainability plan."
Although Arbor Day is celebrated April 27 this year in Nevada, the children's celebration has been deferred until May 9 to accommodate mandatory testing taking place in the school that day.
Free brochures regarding tree selection, tree planting and tree care are available to download at www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Publications/brochures.htm.
Copyright 2012 KVVU (KVVU Broadcast Corporation). All rights reserved.
