Politics & Government
Saukville Lion's Club Plants 200 Trees as Part of Growing Initiative
The club will plant the trees in public parks over Arbor Day weekend as part of a international Lions Club movement to plant 1 million trees worldwide; according to the club's website, over 8 million have already been planted.
Part of an international effort by Lions Clubs everywhere, Saukville Lions Club members are donating and planting 200 trees and shrubs in the village on April 28, the day after Arbor Day.
"It raises the community awareness of green," said Mike Krocka, a Lions Club member and Saukville Village trustee. "We need trees to breathe and live, and keep our parks going. Nature: we need it."
The additional trees will also help the village to remain certified as a Tree City USA community, Department of Public Works Superintendent Ray deBruijn said. Saukville , and received a flag last year.
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- Related: Port Washington has also been a Tree City USA for 16 years. Visit the organization's website to see a complete list of tree cities.
The worldwide tree-planting intiative is a challenge from Lions Club International President Wing-Kun Tam to plant one million trees this year as a demonstration of the strength of the club's network. Members have already planted more than 8 million, as tracked on the club's website.
Krocka said this is the first time he can remember the Saukville Lions Club participating in a worldwide club event, and he said he hopes it raises awareness about the club and volunteerism in the community.
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"I think it shows comradery within the club, how we can get together as one group," Krocka said. "When we do stuff like this, people see that and say, wow, we can make a difference throughout the community. That's what I hope people see."
DeBruijn, who is helping the club choose locations for the planting, said there are about eight varieties of trees and shrubs that will be planted in public parks such as Peninsula Park, Quade Park, and West Riverside Park.
Anyone who wants to help plant can meet at 8 a.m. in the parking lot of the building.
Following the planting, the Saukville Lions Club is hosting a summer kick-off brat fry from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Grady Park, with proceeds supporting the Saukville Police Reserves, an all-volunteer group of residents who assist police with crowd control and traffic directing when needed.