Trees Will Be Planted to Replace Hundreds Destroyed during the 2019 Tornadoes.

Five Rivers MetroParks and the Arbor Day Foundation have partnered to plant 100 trees at Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark, which was significantly impacted during the 2019 Memorial Day tornadoes. Planting will take place on Friday, Oct. 22, 9 to 11 am.

Employees from State Farm and students from Chaminade Julienne High School have volunteered to help MetroParks staff and volunteers plant the trees. Ohio Sen. Steve Huffman also will attend and participate in the tree planting.

“Five Rivers MetroParks has a specific long-term role to play in ongoing efforts to recover from the tornadoes, which is restoring lost habitat,” said Becky Benná, Five Rivers MetroParks’ executive director and CEO. “An untold number of trees, shrubs and other plants critical to our region’s wildlife and natural heritage were lost during the storms. It’s important we replant in the areas where so many were lost to tornado damage. We’re so grateful to the Arbor Day Foundation and State Farm employees for their contributions toward this years-long effort.”

Trees offer vast benefits for communities. Thriving urban forests bolster human health, from encouraging physical activity to reducing respiratory illnesses stemming from air pollution. In the United States, park trees alone remove about 75,000 tons ($500 million) of air pollution each year, according to the Arbor Day Foundation. Urban trees reduce runoff of sediment, pollutants and organic matter into streams, improving water quality.

“We are proud to encourage and support local efforts to plant trees,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation.  “Cities and towns around the globe that line their streets and fill their parks with trees are building healthier, happier communities.”

“Trees can help make communities more resilient in the face of extreme weather,” said Mary Kay Quist, State Farm vice president of agency sales. “State Farm is committed to helping communities recover from disasters and manage future risks, and we are proud to support tree planting in Dayton as part of that effort.”