HERMISTON, Ore.-The community came together to plant 70 trees at the Eastern Oregon Trade and Event Center RV Park on November 3.
Amazon, Hermiston Parks & Recreation, EOTEC, and the Arbor Day Foundation partnered for the planting, and over 50 volunteers braved chilly temperatures to get the trees in the ground.
“Thanks for being here and for helping out with the planting,” said Brandon Artz, Hermiston Parks and Recreation Director. “This is a desert area, and these trees will provide some shade, and in 15-20 years they will be tall and fill out and make an awesome environment.”
Doug Bennett, of Bennett Botanical Garden and the Umatilla County Fair, prepared the planting area with the help of work crews from Two Rivers Correctional Institution in Umatilla.
Oak, hornbeam, sweetgum, and maple trees were planted in rows outlining the RV Park, and were chosen due to the fact that they will grow columnar and up to 60-feet tall, according to Bennett.
“I like to help when I have the time,” said Angel Saenz, of West Richland, Washington, who volunteered to plant trees. “I have kids and it will be nice to bring them here someday and show them what I was a part of.”
The goal of the mass tree planting project is to help grow Hermiston’s tree canopy, providing shade and greenery, as well as additional benefits for the community, according to the City.
“Thanks everybody for helping and for Hermiston Parks and Recreation, it’s good to see such a strong showing of local community engagement,” said Brian Hellinger, Cluster Operations Leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS). “Amazon is part of the community, and these trees will last into the future providing clean air, shade, and will block the wind.”
Trees planted in cities and neighborhoods have been proven to help reduce high temperatures, mitigate stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and boost mental and physical health, according to the Arbor Day Foundation.
Following a brief planting demonstration from Bennett, people broke into groups of three and started planting trees.
“Planting a tree is a commitment to the future,” said Ben Harvey, Amazon Community Engagement Manager. “Long after the volunteers have gone home, these trees will still be growing, providing shade and vibrancy for generations of local residents.”
