By Anna Skinner
Despite the gray drizzle falling on April 25 that the 500 saplings probably enjoyed, the Westfield community still visited Asa Bales Park for the Arbor Day recognition.
Melody Jones, Westfield Parks and Recreation director, was present with the 500 different trees to answer questions and assist with bagging the seedlings up.
The five varieties consisted of pine, bur oak, sugar maple, red bud and tulip. There were 100 of each tree, and the saplings were around three feet tall each.
From 10 a.m. to noon, people could come to Asa Bales and take as many of each of the trees as they wanted. Some attendants stuck to one type of tree, and some grabbed multiples of each.
Jim and Becky Shaw, attendants of the Arbor Day recognition, bagged many of the seedlings to take home. They said they were planning on planting them that very day.
Jones had binders full of information on the trees provided and the importance of trees in the society.
“It’s really important for any community to have their own urban forest, it helps with everything like storm water, purification, air quality and quality of life. Who doesn’t want to live around where there are beautiful trees?” she said. “We do five different varieties because it is really important to diversify your forest.”
Jones spoke of a beetle called the emerald ash borer that is hurting the Westfield forest because of its ash tree population.
“We just want people to have an opportunity to plant some trees in their own backyard and enjoy the trees,” Jones said.
