The City of Hattiesburg’s Parks and Recreation Department will hold the 2015 Arbor Day Celebration at the new Gordons Creek Fruit Orchard on 301 West Street across from McCarty Park on Friday, February 13th at 10:00 am. The agenda includes a Dedication of the fruit orchard, an Arbor Day Proclamation by the Mayor DuPree, the presentation of the Arbor Day Appreciation Award and tree planting by the Urban Forestry Crew.
The Gordons Creek Fruit Orchard is the first of its kind in Hattiesburg and hopefully a model for more city fruit orchards to come. The fruit trees were purchased by a grant from the Mississippi Urban Forest Council and planted by the city’s urban forestry crew. Trees planted include peach, pear, plum, fig and apple, along with blueberry bushes. The urban forestry crew of the parks & recreation department will oversee and maintain the fruit orchard.
Arbor Day is a day set aside in which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant and care for trees. The first Arbor Day was held on April 10, 1872, in Nebraska City, Nebraska with J. Sterling Morton as it’s founder. An estimated 1 million trees were planted that day. The State of Mississippi offically observes Arbor Day on the second Friday of February. The City of Hattiesburg has celebrated Arbor Day along with being a Tree City USA for 22 years.