Volunteers to Celebrate Arbor Day by Planting 25,000 Trees

Houston Parks and Recreation Department

		Media Alert
		Estella Espinosa
		Houston Parks and Recreation Department 2999 South Wayside Houston, TX 77023 Office: (832) 395-7022 Cell: (832) 465-4782

Release Date: January 20, 2012

Volunteers to Celebrate Arbor Day by Planting 25,000 Trees Re-Plant Houston Effort Begins At 4 Parks Hit By Drought of 2011
The Houston Parks and Recreation Department, the Apache Foundation, the Memorial Park Conservancy, the Hermann Park Conservancy, Trees for Houston and an army of volunteers will begin the multi-year effort to Re-Plant Houston on Saturday, January 21, 2012. The planting effort will begin at 8:00 a.m. at all 4 parks, Memorial Park, Hermann Park, MacGregor Park and Mason Park. A total of 25,000 trees, donated by the Apache Foundation, Trees for Houston, DRC Emergency Service and other corporate and non-profit organizations, will be planted on Arbor Day. The pre-registration volunteer response by Houstonians for this event has been immense. Those wishing to continue the Re-Plant Houston project beyond Arbor Day are asked to visit www.houstonparks.org for a list and link to non-profit groups working to Re-Plant Houston.
	Who:	The Honorable Annise Mayor, City of Houston Joe Turner, Director, Houston Parks and Recreation Department Roger Plank, President, Apache Corporation Matt Weaver, Regional Urban Forester, Texas Forest Service Jamie Hendrixson, Chair, Memorial Park Conservancy
	What:	26th Annual Arbor Day Celebration
		Re-Plant Houston Event
		25,000 Trees to be planted by Volunteers in 4 Park
	When:	Saturday, January 21, 2012
		7:30 a.m. - Volunteer Check-In
		8:00 a.m. - Planting Begins at all 4 Parks
		10:00 a.m. - Arbor Day Ceremony at Memorial Park
	Where:	Memorial Park (across from Tennis Center) - 6501 Memorial, 77007
		Hermann Park (near Miller Theatre) - 6001 Fannin, 77030
		MacGregor Park (area along MLK) - 5500 MacGregor, 77021
		Mason Park (Ballfield Area Across Street From Community Center near Brays Bayou) - 541 South 75th, 77023
	Why:	To celebrate Houston's 26th Annual Arbor Day by planting 25,000 trees in 4 City of Houston Parks
Re-plant Houston will be a multi-year effort project conducted in conjunction with Trees for Houston, the Hermann Park Conservancy, the Memorial Park Conservancy and the Houston Parks Board. These non-profit groups are working to secure funding for the multi-year Re-Plant Houston project. Their efforts will help secure both trees and watering for future Re-plant Houston tree plantings. Re-Plant Houston's goal is to reforest Houston parks and greenspaces devastated by the drought of 2011. Pre-registered volunteers are asked to check into their planting sites beginning at 7:30 a.m. Free parking is open to volunteers near the planting sites in the four parks. Please bring your own shovel and gloves. Dress appropriately for planting as you will get dirty. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please remember no pets allowed. We plant rain or shine.
The Houston Parks and Recreation Department (H.P.A.R.D.) stewards and manages over 38,992 acres of parkland and greenspace for the City of Houston and develops and implements recreational programming for citizens of all abilities. For more information on the Houston Parks and Recreation Department, call (832) 395-7022 or visit www.houstonparks.org.
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Media Alert

Volunteers to Celebrate Arbor Day by

Planting 25,000 Trees

Re-Plant Houston Effort Begins At 4 Parks Hit By Drought of 2011