A beautiful Friday afternoon last week was the perfect setting in Libby’s Fireman Park for dozens of community members to celebrate Arbor Day and the 30th anniversary as a member of Tree City USA.

Libby Mayor Peggy Williams led the ceremony and shared some of the history of Libby becoming a Tree City USA member.

“Thirty years ago, more than 100 trees were planted on Louisiana Avenue as well as nearby streets and school,” Williams said. “We are fortunate to have a dedicated group of people who have kept the tradition alive.”

Williams lauded city resident Russ Gautreaux for, “being there since the beginning.” Gautreaux was there for Friday’s planting as was longtime tree board member Vicky Lawrence.

Lawrence was still in the thick of things, explaining how to properly plant the new trees that were planted in Fireman Park as well shoveling dirt into the hole where a Linden tree was planted. The Linden, also known as a basswood tree, is native in the Northern hemisphere.

Williams also lauded other early Tree Board members, including Mitch Riechel, Dave Freidman, Cheryl Chandler and Gary Huntsberger.

Volunteers have planted more than 400 trees in three decades.

The volunteer Tree Board writes grants to supplement the funds given by the city toward the purchase of trees, pruning and fertilizing, removal when necessary and public education projects such as spring pruning workshops.

Many folks helped organize Friday’s anniversary event, including Lincoln County Forester Jennifer Nelson, Zero-to-Five’s Dorey Roland, Lincoln County Library’s Dusty Deans and U.S. Forest Service’s April Rainey. The Libby Volunteer Fire Department also passed out helmets to the kids and provided the water for the new trees.

Many of the young kids who attended also were able to make pine cone critters, an enjoyable art activity.

Stimson Lumber donated the trees which were planted while the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation provided a grant to help with the project.

Williams had words of thanks for city employee Shane Herron and Nelson for the pruning work they perform on many of the community’s trees.

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA began in 1976. As of 2021, more than 3,600 communities were recognized as Tree Cities. $1.4 billion has been invested in urban forestry with nearly one million trees planted.

A thriving urban forest offers many advantages to communities.

Here are just a few:

• Trees help absorb the sounds of traffic in urban areas by 40%;
• Neighborhoods with trees are seven to nine degrees cooler than those without;
• Trees reduce energy costs up to 25% by shading buildings and protecting them from winter winds;
• Homes with trees have higher property values;
• Green space plays a major role in improving mental and physical health;
• Planting and maintaining trees absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, mitigating the effects of climate change.

For more information, go to https://cityoflibby.com/departments-services/parks/tree-city-usa/ or https://www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa/.