31 Oct 2016 Conway plans Arbor Day event

Posted at 1:53 PMh in Events by

The city of Conway will host the 2016 Arbor Day celebration at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at Laurel Park, located on Prince Street across from Conway High School.

Sponsored by Conway Corporation and hosted by the City of Conway Tree Board, this annual event attracts more than 500 people each year.

Participants can enjoy free family-friendly activities including face-painting, craft activities, tree adoption, bounces houses and an art display. Children can also meet and take pictures with Smokey Bear. Free hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, and water will be provided.

Winners will be recognized among the local public school students who participated in the Arbor Day Young Artists Award Contest. The students’ winning artwork will be on display at the park gazebo. Following the event, the artwork will be exhibited in Conway City Hall during the holiday season. The winners will also be posted on the Conway Tree Board’s website at conwaytrees.org.

“The Conway Tree Board is especially grateful to the community and local businesses who have made the Arbor Day celebration possible each year,” said tree board member Kami Marsh. “Through the purchase of Celebration Trees, as well as the financial support of local sponsors, the community has made it possible for the continued enhancement of the city.

These efforts havehelped establish Conway as a Tree City USA, demonstrating the continued interest in promoting thoughtful management of the city’s urban forestry resources.”
The Arbor Day tree adoption program is made possible through the collaboration of the City of Conway Tree Board, the Arkansas Forestry Commission, the Conway High School Future Farmers of America (FFA) and the Faulkner County Master Gardeners. The trees were donated by the Arkansas Forestry Commission, or grown from acorns by the Conway High School FFA. The potted saplings were transported to the City of Conway Tree Farm with the help of the Master Gardeners. The Tree Farm, located on Sturgis Road in Conway, sits on approximately three-quarters of an acre and contains nearly 800 sapling trees. One quarter of the trees will be given to participants in this year’s Arbor Day celebration. Under the care of tree board members and volunteers, the Tree Farm will continue to provide saplings for future Arbor Day celebration events, as well as City of Conway tree canopy projects.

Event sponsors and volunteers include: Conway Corporation, City of Conway Tree Board, Central Baptist College, Faulkner County Master Gardeners, Conway FFA, Faulkner County 4-H, City of Conway (Planning and Development, Parks and Recreation, Sanitation and Recycling Center), Arkansas Forestry Commission, Conway Public Schools, Faulkner County Extension Service, Hiegel Supply, Premium Refreshment, Morrilton Meat Packing, BSW Printing, Conway Copies, Flowers Bakery and the Information Network of Arkansas.

For more information on the Conway Arbor Day celebration or the City of Conway Tree Board, visit conwaytrees.org.