The City of Knoxville will celebrate Arbor Day on Monday, Nov. 16, by planting a red maple tree in Skyline Park, 1050 Beaman Lake Road.

The tree is one of about 785 being planted by the City this year.

At 10:30 a.m. next Monday, Mayor Indya Kincannon and members of City Council join the city Tree Board at the park. Urban Forester Kasey Krouse and his crew will be planting the red maple. 

Each year, the City plants at least 600 trees in parks, at schools, throughout neighborhoods and along public rights-of-way. Some years, like this year, City crews plant more. 

All told, there are about 30,000 planted public trees across the city. 

“It is vital to the success and overall effectiveness of the Knoxville Tree Board that we educate the public on good tree care,” said Dale Madden, Chair of the Tree Board. “During the Arbor Day event, we will demonstrate the proper planting and mulching of trees.” 

The demonstration will be recorded and incorporated in the Tree Board’s public education efforts. The planting also will be replayed several times on Community Television of Knoxville and be available on the YouTube channel and Facebook page of Trees Knoxville, a local nonprofit organization. 

In addition, Mayor Kincannon will accept the City’s 29th annual Tree City USA award, and KUB President and CEO Gabriel Bolas will accept the utility’s 19th annual Tree Line USA award. 

Prior to the ceremonial tree planting, Trees Knoxville Chair Tom Welborn will provide an update on the 2020 Tree Canopy Assessment. 
 
Krouse said that Knoxville has been hosting an Arbor Day event for close to 30 years. While the state’s official Arbor Day is the first Friday in March, Knoxville celebrates it in the fall, because it’s the ideal time to plant trees.  
   
Trees improve the quality of life in neighborhoods, and they help foster cleaner air and cleaner water, Krouse said. 

“Tree plantings are an important part of our City’s sustainability efforts, as we partner with homeowners and business owners to lower greenhouse gas emissions and reduce our carbon footprint,” he said. “The bottom line is: Research has repeatedly shown that the most effective, easiest and cheapest way that communities can resist climate change is to plant trees.” 

For more information on the City’s Urban Forestry efforts, visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/trees.