WAYNESBORO – Trees are credited with cleaning air/water, providing habitat, connecting communities, supporting health and regulating the climate through shade.
Area residents will have the opportunity to learn more about the value of trees during a Tree Walk at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at Rotary Park on West Ninth Street. Hosted by the Shade Tree Commission of the Borough of Waynesboro, the program will introduce the group’s pursuit of a level one arboretum accreditation for the park through ArbNet.
Rotary Club of Waynesboro created the park in 2001 for public use by the community. The park features a fitness trail, pavilion, basketball court and restrooms. The outermost loop of the walking trail is .38 miles.
Walks in the park are what led commission member Austin Lally to propose the idea. “My wife Samantha and I are in the park quite a bit and had recently seen another arboretum,” said Lally, who lives on Fairview Avenue adjacent to the park.
“There are four levels of arboretum designation through ArbNet and level one includes identifying at least 25 distinct species – Rotary has 28 – and holding an annual public event. Hopefully this will be the first of an annual series.”
Derek Furry, a certified master arborist with Bartlett Tree Service, volunteered to survey and label the trees at the park, according to commission member Tom McCloud. Furry, of Chambersburg, is a former president of Rotary Club of Waynesboro. “Each tree was labeled with a metal numbered tag, making it easier for borough employees – or the public – to identify a tree that has broken limbs or has been damaged, etc.,” McCloud added.
Most of the trees on Main Street have been identified, and next on the agenda will be the trees at Memorial, Northside and Mount Airy parks, McCloud said.
“The walk is a great way to introduce the public to this program and for them to learn about ArbNet designation. It’s also a way for the Shade Tree Commission to give a little back to the community and engage more,” added Lally.
