This year, the city of Mercer Island will hold its third annual Arbor Day Celebration, scheduled for Oct. 17, in two ways.

Since large planting events aren’t possible due to the pandemic, the city will instead celebrate virtually on social media for the preceding week.

The city will also partner with EarthCorps to host a small socially distanced volunteer planting at Pioneer Park on Oct. 17; pre-registration is required and shifts are limited to five volunteers at one time. Visit: https://www.earthcorps.org/volunteer/calendar/

In 2018, Mercer Island joined more than 3,400 communities across America that made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA. This is achieved by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department; having a community tree ordinance; spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry; and celebrating Arbor Day. Obtaining this distinction not only recognizes the many ways the city embraces trees and urban forestry; it also makes the city eligible for new grant opportunities.