of trees. Our lush, mature tree canopy is a defining characteristic of our community and
an asset that city government, leaders and residents actively seek to foster and protect. And these efforts are not just about aesthetics. Trees provide important environmental, health, economic and community benefits to cities like Holladay. This issue of the Holladay Journal devotes a lot of space to trees because they add so much value to our quality of life. Here are just some of the many benefits trees provide our city:
• Environmental Benefits. Trees have a positive impact on the environment and climate change. Trees produce oxygen, absorb pollutants like sulfur dioxide and ozone, and sequester carbon. They mitigate increasing temperatures. They also prevent soil erosion and provide habitat for more diverse urban wildlife.
• Health Benefits. In addition to improving air quality, trees and greenspaces have other beneficial health impacts. Studies show that exposure to trees and natural environments reduce stress and anxiety and improve mental health. In addition, exposure to trees and natural spaces improves immune function. This may be because of phytoncides -- natural compounds produced by trees that have antibacterial and antifungal properties!
• Economic Benefits. Trees have a positive impact on your pocketbook. They increase property values and attract visitors to restaurants and other businesses. Trees provide shade and other temperature moderation, leading to lower energy costs. Trees can also help address storm water costs by absorbing and filtering rainfall, which reduces the risks of floods and the costs of expensive storm water infrastructure.
• Community-building Benefits. Holladay’s parks and green spaces so appealing because of our beautiful trees. Whether its Knudsen Park or City Hall, Holladay’s trees create places to gather, socialize and recreate. They are also a source of community pride and identity, from the history of Holladay Pines Park, to our leafy city logo, to new and exciting artistic and branding opportunities.
Because of their importance to our community, Holladay has found numerous ways to protect and promote our trees. We are fortunate to have an active and engaged Tree Committee made up of committed residents who advise the City Council and staff on tree issues. They also plan great community events, some of which you will read about this month’s Holladay Journal. Among other activities, the Tree Committee has partnered this year with the Holladay Library for a “Tree Talk” series. The Tree Talk on April 8 will discuss Holladay’s Tree Canopy Sustainability Ordinance to protect trees during construction and development of new buildings. Attend to learn more or ask questions of our city staff who are featured speakers! The City Council also recently adopted an ordinance, recommended by the Tree Committee, to provide more shade from trees in parking lots.
By Council Member Matt Durham, District 4
DIGGING DEEP for EARTH DAY and ARBOR DAY
By Wendy Frank. Holladay Tree CommitteeAs the City of Holladay revels in springtime, an Earth Day Celebration at Howard R. Driggs Elementary on Friday, April 21, at 12:45-1:15 p.m., and an Arbor Day Celebration at Crestview Elementary on Friday, April 28, at 12:45-1:15 p.m., are looming large.
The Holladay Rotary Club, led by Cathy Mullaly, and the City of Holladay Tree Committee are each donating Zelkova and Linden shade trees to both Driggs and Crestview. A TreeUtah representative will deliver a short talk at each celebration.
Crestview‘s PTA President Anderson, and Driggs’s PTA President Gloeckner, are digging deep with their Boards and Faculty to implement robust event agendas. Steadfastly lighting the way are Principal Winn of Crestview and Principal Peters of Driggs.
From tree-focused morning announcements by Safety Patrol students, to expressing what Earth Day means to them through art and written mediums, students at Driggs will have opportunities to appreciate the benefits trees provide to our community, health, and environment. The PTA will display a tree trunk in the library filled with students’ leaf-shaped expressions depicting what they learned about trees. Students will contribute to a mural landscape, and shovel in on April 21st.
During Crestview’s tree-planting celebration, original student poems will be read and tree-naming contest winners announced and awarded prizes. Completing the PTA’s “Celebrate Arbor Day Checklist,” creating a tree mural, engaging in tutorials on poetry-writing, Librarianled book readings, and directed mindfulness sessions will punctuate their month-long tribute---all topped off with cookies for kids.
The Holladay Arts Council and the Holladay Library have invited both schools to display their celebratory artworks at City Hall and the Library throughout May.
Climaxing these tree tributes, the City of Holladay will hold a 420-Tree Giveaway on Saturday, May 6, at 9:00noon just west of City Hall. (See www. holladaychamber.com for details.)
The public is invited to join the Earth Day Celebration at Driggs Elementary, located at 4340 S. 2075 E., and the Arbor Day Celebration at Crestview Elementary, 2100 E. Lincoln Lane. All visitors to the schools are required to check in at the main office prior to joining the event.
