DDOT Celebrates Arbor Day with Festival, Growing Tree Canopy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 26, 2019

Media Contacts

Terry Owens

Lauren Stephens

DDOT Celebrates Arbor Day with Festival, Growing Tree Canopy

(Washington, DC) — Today, the District Department of Transportation celebrates Arbor Day 2019 with the inaugural Arbor Day festival in Oxon Run Park and reaffirming its commitment to the District’s tree canopy.

“We are committed to planting new trees in all eight wards, ensuring that everyone has equal access to all the benefits that trees provide, such as clean air and cooler summer temperatures,” said DDOT Director Jeff Marootian. “Our priority is to continue being a national leader in urban forestry while advancing Mayor Bowser’s sustainability goals.”

Arbor Day is a celebration of DDOT’s continued commitment to expanding the District’s tree canopy in all eight wards. Since October 1, 2018, DDOT has planted nearly 7,500 trees in the District, moving the District closer to Mayor Bowser’s Sustainable DC goal of a 40% urban tree canopy by 2032.

DDOT’s Urban Forestry Division continues to find new and inventive ways to engage the community around the value of trees including:

• New launch of urban wood recycling and milling program
• Delivery of upcycled lumber for use in District outdoor classrooms and high school carpentry programs
• Arborist-led tree walks and presentations to elementary school classrooms
• Collaboration on urban agriculture program to provide healthy food for District students

The 2019 Arbor Day Festival is a day-long event that invites Washingtonians to celebrate trees and all the ways they enjoy and benefit from them. The festival includes tree plantings, live music, tree climbing for children, nature walks, guided bike rides, among other activities. For more information about the Arbor Day Festival, click here.

For more information about Urban Forestry Division and the tree planting season, and a map of the planned tree planting locations, visit DDOT’s Urban Forestry Division’s new interactive portal.

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