Arlington and NBA Cares to Plant 2,010 Trees in 100 Days
Applications for Free Trees Now Being Accepted From
Residents and Businesses
In conjunction with NBA Cares, Arlington Parks and
Recreation Department will lead an effort to plant 2,010
trees over the course of 100 days leading up to the NBA
All-Star game on Feb. 14, 2010.
The Parks Department is connecting with residents,
businesses, schools and neighborhood groups to plant trees
in celebration of the NBA’s All-Star game being played in
Arlington. As part of this partnership, Arlington’s forestry
program, L.E.A.F, will distribute approximately 1,200 trees
to area businesses and individuals. L.E.A.F. is an acronym
for Let’s Enhance Arlington’s Forestry. This urban forestry
initiative is designed to bring free, quality trees to
neighborhoods, businesses and public open spaces in
Arlington.
The city’s Urban Design Center is helping to identify
planting locations along major thoroughfares, including
medians and rights-of-ways. Trees will be planted at
elementary schools and in parks.
“This is an opportunity to create a legacy for the city of
Arlington, the NBA and the Urban Forestry Program,” said
Parks and Recreation Director Pete Jamieson.
The addition of new trees can help reduce energy consumption
and cost, improve air quality, minimize heat islands and
help control erosion.
NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility initiative
that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing
important social issues in the U.S. and around the world.
The NBA, its teams and players have donated more than $115
million to charity, provided more than one million hours of
hands-on service to communities around the world, and
created more than 440 places where kids and families can
live, learn or play. NBA Cares works with internationally
recognized youth-serving programs that support education,
youth and family development, and health-related causes,
including KaBOOM!, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Clubs of
America, UNICEF, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Global
Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
Applications are now being accepted from individuals and
businesses who want to participate in the program. Trees
will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. To apply
for a tree, visit
www.naturallyfun.org for an application. For more
information about this program, call the Arlington Parks and
Recreation Department at 817-459-5474 or send an e-mail to
Parksdepartment@arlingtontx.gov.
Note to News Media: Interview, video and photo opportunities
available 9 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 3 at Mary Moore Elementary
Tree Planting located at 5500 Parks Springs Blvd. Contact
Parks Marketing Manager Kelly Drawdy at 817-459-6931 or
Kelly.Drawdy@arlingtontx.gov.
More details coming soon.
