Students help with Arbor Day tree planting

ST. MARYS - Luhr Park became the home of a new shade tree as part of the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration hosted by the Shade Tree Commission of St. Marys. On Thursday fifth grade students and their teachers from nearby South St. Marys Street Elementary School gathered at the park to plant a new Red Sunset Maple tree. The event included a brief ceremony emceed by St. Marys Shade Tree Commission member Gail Shturtz. David Grotzinger of West Creek Nursery demonstrated how to plant a tree as the students lent a hand by taking turns shoveling soil and mulch around the tree then compacting it around the tree's base. The Shade Tree Commission plants a tree each year in honor of local fifth grade students who helped to enhance the environment by planting a seedling provided by the commission during their fourth grade year. This year students will receive Eastern White Pine saplings, funded by a donation from First Energy. Also in attendance at the planting was State Representative Mike Armanini (RElk/Clearfield), fellow Shade Tree Commission members, city officials including Mayor Lyle Garner and City Manager Joe Fleming, and representatives from First Energy. This year's tree of choice was a Red Sunset Maple, also known as an acer rubrum “Franksred”, which is a fast growing tree that gets up to 40-60 feet tall and 25-35 feet wide. The leaves turn orangered in the fall and is one of the first trees to start turning color. In the summer, the leaves are shiny green. They are known to be very easy to grow and require no maintenance. The tree was planted near the lower playground along Chestnut Street. The Shade Tree Commission rotates hosting the annual Arbor Day tree planting ceremony between fifth grade students at St. Marys Catholic Elementary and South

St. Marys Street Elementary. The planting events are part of the city’s responsibilities in education in order to maintain the title as Tree City USA.

Following the planting students enjoyed the pleasant spring weather playing at the park.

Photos by Amy Cherry Fifth grade SSMSE students lend a hand during an Arbor Day tree-planting ceremony as they place soil and mulch around Luhr Park’s newest tree.

Photo by Amy Cherry SSMSE fifth grade class displays the 2022 Arbor Day Foundation flag presented to the City of St. Marys during a recent tree-planting ceremony.