Submitted article

COLUMBUS – Ohioans wanting to celebrate Arbor Day early this year and support their state parks are encouraged to donate and help plant a tree at one of nine Ohio State Parks on Saturday, April 18. In return for their efforts, participants will receive one free night of camping for each tree they donate and help plant. This is the second year for this tree planting event which celebrates Arbor Day, and growing on the success of last year’s event, nine parks will be participating, up from only four in 2014.

The Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) is encouraging park visitors to donate mature native tree saplings and help park staff and volunteers plant them in an effort to replace trees that were affected by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) infestation. Some ash trees within the state parks system were removed to ensure the safety of park visitors. The plantings will take place in northwest, northeast and southwest Ohio on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The tree plantings will be held at nine state parks: Caesar Creek, Cowan Lake, Hueston Woods and Stonelick in southwest Ohio; Maumee Bay, Mary Jane Thurston and East Harbor in northwest Ohio; and Findley and Mohican in northeast Ohio. State park visitors will receive one free night of camping during the 2015 season at the state park of their choice for each donated mature sapling that is at least 5 feet in height. The promotion is limited to two free nights of camping per family. To receive camping vouchers, state park visitors must help staff and volunteers plant the tree. Ohio State Parks requests that people donate native tree species, such as red maple, red oak, burr oak, yellow poplar and beech.

Other volunteers and staff, as well as all necessary equipment and supplies, will be provided at each local state park. In addition to tree plantings, the Arbor Day celebrations will include naturalist-led activities for visitors of all ages. More information is available at parks.ohiodnr.gov/arborday. People interested in planting a tree before Arbor Day are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to plant saplings that will be enjoyed by state park visitors for generations to come and will help improve the environment.

All questions regarding local Arbor Day tree plantings should be directed to the local park offices:

  • Caesar Creek State Park – 513-897-3055
  • Cowan Lake State Park – 937-382-1096
  • East Harbor State Park – 419-734-4424
  • Findley State Park – 440-647-5749
  • Hueston Woods State Park – 513-523-6347
  • Maumee Bay State Park – 419-836-7758
  • Mary Jane Thurston State Park – 419-832-7662
  • Mohican State Park – 419-994-5125
  • Stonelick State Park – 513-734-4323