Toccoa celebrates Arbor Day

The City of Toccoa celebrated Arbor Day on Friday with a tree planting at the Paul Anderson Park.

Toccoa Mayor David Austin welcomed the large group that gathered at the park and talked about Arbor Day and its history.

“In 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees. The holiday, called Arbor Day, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska, and Arbor Day is now observed throughout the nation and world. In February 2006, Toccoa was designated for the first time as a new Tree City USA and has been designated as a Tree City for 2023,” he said.

Austin says during the 18 years that Toccoa has been a Tree City USA they have planted over 300 trees in downtown Toccoa.

Paul Anderson Park Board Member Roger Sheppard says the tree they planted replaces one they recently loss.

“This was the dream of a class at Toccoa Elementary many years ago, and the city has entrusted this sustaining board to keep this thing as pretty as it was when it was built, and so far, we’ve been able to do that. If a rose bush dies we replace it. There was a majestic tree, right here, and for some reason it had become sick. We got an arborist to nurse it back to health, but, all the sudden, without bad weather, it fell in the street. We intended to replant this tree and now we have. We’re just happy to be a part of it,” Sheppard said.

Susan Russell with the Forestry Commission says the City of Toccoa has made trees a part of its cultural fabric of its community.

She says the City of Toccoa exemplifies what it means to be a Tree City.

Main Street Toccoa Events Coordinator Sharon Crosby says Paul Anderson Park was the idea of a class at Toccoa Elementary. During the ceremony on Friday, a group of 5th-graders gave a presentation about the history of Paul Anderson Park.

For additional information regarding the recent Arbor Day celebration, contact city staff by calling 706-886-8451.