McLean County Times

The Town of Normal Parks & Recreation Department will mark National Arbor Day and its continued recognition as a Tree City USA with two educational events.

On Friday, April 25, Tyler Bain, Park Maintenance Supervisor for the Town of Normal, will speak to fifth grade students at Glenn Elementary School. Bain’s presentation will focus on the importance of trees in the community and how the town maintains its urban forest. Following his talk, around 10:15 a.m., Mrs. Bain and Ms. Hathaway’s fifth graders will help plant both a white oak—the state tree—and a red oak at Broadview Mansion.

On Saturday, April 26, Bain will join representatives from Heartland Community College, Illinois State University, Westminster Village, and the City of Bloomington to educate attendees about various tree species. The event will include discussions on their significance, historical context, stories associated with them, and their environmental benefits.

The Arbor Day Tree Talk event is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on April 26 and is open to the public at no cost. Sessions led by experts are set for multiple times throughout the day at different locations in Bloomington-Normal. For more information about specific locations and session details, participants are encouraged to visit the Arbor Day Tree Talk event page.

Normal has been awarded the Tree City USA designation by the Arbor Day Foundation for the 26th year in a row in 2024. This national program sets standards for urban forestry management that cities must meet to qualify for recognition. The requirements include having a tree board or department, enacting a tree-care ordinance, maintaining an annual forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and observing Arbor Day with an official proclamation.

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