Danville residents invited to join tree-planting program
DANVILLE – Next month, the city will be planting trees around town, and residents can boost the city's tree- planting efforts by getting involved in the Leaf A Legacy program.
Since 2003, the city's Pride Grows Program has offered individuals, businesses, organizations and others the opportunity to buy a Leaf A Legacy tree that's planted in a city park or other city property and marked with a plaque.
Steve Lane, superintendent of special services for the city, said it's a good way to supplement the city's tree-planting program, especially with the city's budget issues.
"There's not always much money for trees, and this is a good way where the public can help us out and do something nice for someone else," he said.
Orders can be placed throughout the year, but planting time for trees purchased this fall will be in November and next spring.
Lane said a tree can also be a good gift for someone. Some of the trees in the past, he said, have been planted in memory of someone, while others are planted as a gift to another and some have been planted by groups.
The Danville Garden Club purchased a tree that was planted this past spring in Lincoln Park, which is home to many Leaf A Legacy trees.
For $200, a tree with a trunk about 2 1/2 inches in diameter and about 10 feet high is planted by city workers, and a stone marker is installed with an engraved name or message, determined by the buyer.
Lane said the trees are planted on city property, including in the parks, city right-of-ways along streets, at fire stations, Harrison Park Golf Course and other sites.
Lane said the city works with buyers on placement and type of tree, but normally the city wants to plant long-living trees like oaks and maples.
"We plant them, and we have the marker engraved and place the plaque," he said. "If it is damaged or dies, we replace it at no extra fee to the purchaser."
"We certainly take their input and try as best we can to put the tree where they want it," said Lane, who added that all the trees come from a local nursery.
To buy a tree, call Lane at 431-2273 or e-mail him at slane@cityofdanville.org.
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