Celebrate Arbor Day 2017 Festivities at Mt. Scott Park Saturday

PORTLAND, OR – Celebrate Arbor Day 2017 at Mt. Scott Park in Southeast Portland Saturday with music, multicultural performances, and stories. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 22, enjoy food and events for all ages amongst the park’s towering Douglas Firs at Southeast 72nd Avenue and Southeast Harold Street.

"Trees are an essential component of Portland's livability," Portland Parks Commissioner Amanda Fritz said in a statement. "They help enhance the environment, provide shade and wildlife habitat, filter storm water runoff, and improve air quality. Arbor Day 2017 is a chance to come together and celebrate the special contributions that trees make to our quality of life."

Highlights of the event will include face painting, an ecological scavenger hunt, botanical printmaking, and more.

"The City of Portland will also receive the designation as a 'Tree City USA' for the 40th consecutive year," said Portland Parks & Recreation Director Mike Abbaté. "Arbor Day –– held, appropriately, on Earth Day –– is a chance to celebrate our history of caring for trees and the environment. And it will be a day of family fun for all."

Parks & Recreation officials are also encouraging residents to send in essays that describe a tree important their lives. In 500 words or fewer, the essays should include why the tree is important, where it’s located, and as much information about the tree as is known.

The stories will be shared with the community on the city’s Urban Forestry website as part of ‘The Year in Tree Stories’ project. Submissions can be sent digitally to treestory@portlandoregon.gov.

Photo Courtesy: Ben Brink, Portland Parks & Recreation