Community organizations will gather to celebrate Athens Arbor Day on Friday, February 14, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. on a segment of the completed Firefly Trail between South Peter Street and Inglewood Avenue. The public is invited to attend. As part of the ceremony, nine new trees donated by the Community Tree Council for the Trees for Tomorrow program will be planted along the trail.

The program will also recognize Athens-Clarke County’s designation as a Tree City USA for the 20th year in a row by the National Arbor Day Foundation. This honor has been bestowed to Athens-Clarke County in recognition of Athens’ dedication to the care of the trees that help define the character of the community and make it such a special place. The program will include a reading of the proclamation signed by Mayor Kelly Girtz to officially declare February 14, 2020 as Athens Arbor Day.  

The Arbor Day celebration will conclude with the Georgia Forestry Commission providing free bare root saplings for all attendees, who will be encouraged to plant and nurture them in suitable locations for the benefit of future Athenians.

The Arbor Day event is a celebration of the collaboration of community partners for the purpose of improving the quality of life for Athens-Clarke County’s residents through the planting and maintenance of trees. The partners include the Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov), the University of Georgia (UGA), the Community Tree Council (CTC), the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC), and Keep Athens-Clarke County Beautiful (KACCB). 

The ceremony site on the Firefly Trail can be most directly accessed either by walking up the ramp onto the trail bridge from Poplar Street or through trail crossings at Peter Street or Inglewood Avenue. Limited parking is available in small lots at 286 South Poplar Street or 354 South Peter Street. Safe parking places along South Poplar Street, South Peter Street, or Inglewood Avenue also may be available. Those attending should be prepared to walk one or more blocks and dressed appropriately for the weather.