The City of Wheeling will celebrate Arbor Day at noon, Friday, April 9, with a ceremonial tree planting at Heritage Port, 1201 Water Street.

Karen Cox, Ohio County Agent with the WVU Extension Service and member of Wheeling’s newly formed tree board, explained Arbor Day is celebrated every year in April to highlight trees and all of the benefits that they provide.

“Last year, volunteers planted more than 130 trees in Wheeling’s community parks through a project coordinated via the WVU Extension office in Ohio County. This project began a process that ultimately led to the incorporation of the Wheeling Tree Board, an advisory board to help improve the health of Wheeling’s Urban Forest Ecosystem. The Wheeling Tree Board has now taken on the task of coordinating Arbor Day events,” Cox said.

For this year’s planting, Cox explained the goal is to involve area students and teachers. 

"We are providing at least one tree to each of our schools to plant on their campus for Arbor Day, and we will be offering short training programs about planting trees," she said. 

The Wheeling Tree Board is also encouraging schools to participate in the West Virginia Division of Forestry Arbor Day poster contest by offering a special prize tree for the local winners to plant.

For more information about planting a tree at your school or the poster contest, please contact the Wheeling Tree Board at TreeBoard@wheelingwv.gov or call the WVU Extension office at 304-234-3673.