MANSFIELD — Louis Andres was back in his element on Friday morning.
Back to nature, that is, for a man who began his 40-year career parks and recreation career in 1978 with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources as a park naturalist.
The City of Mansfield’s public works director filled in for Mayor Jodie Perry as Mansfield celebrated its 29th consecutive year as a “Tree City USA” community with a tree planting ceremony on Arbor Day at the Mansfield Art Museum.
“I remember as a kid with (Boy) Scouts doing Arbor Day and Earth Day and always having programs and activities and planting trees,” said Andres, who read a proclamation from Perry to mark the event.
“This is kind of a continuation of childhood (for me). Parks are all about trees,” said Andres, who Mansfield’s new mayor selected for his current role when she took office in January.
“We planted four apple trees this week on Monday — one at Central Park, one at Kingwood, one at South Park and one at Oak Hill Cottage, a vintage from the original Johnny Appleseed tree,” Andres said.
To earn the “Tree City USA” award, a community and its Shade Tree Commission must “demonstrate a commitment to implement a sound urban forestry policy,” according to a city press release.
(Photos from an Arbor Day tree planting event Friday morning at the Mansfield Arts Center. The story continues below the photo gallery.)
Josh Mauer and Michael Henry, owners of Alta Florist and Greenhouse and members of the Shade Tree Commission, played a key role in retaining that designation, donating 100 trees to the city to mark the 100th anniversary of the business.
The five Newport Purple Leaf Plums planted Friday at the 700 Marion Ave. site culminated an effort Mauer and Henry began thinking about two years ago.
“As I said to City Council, it was more important to us to give back to the community, rather than the handouts — souvenir cups, umbrellas or whatnot. It made sense to us to do what we did as far as our nature, in the area as growers,” Maurer said.
“Today marks the completion of it. It’s been a wonderful thing,” he said.
He said the Mansfield Art Center was chosen for the event because of its own commitment to urban forestry.
In recent years, center officials made the decision to clean out dead ash trees. It plans to replant in the next week with 57 new trees.
Ash trees in Ohio fell under attack beginning 2023 when the Emerald Ash Borer was unintentionally introduced to southeastern Michigan. It was first found feeding on ash trees in northwest Ohio and quickly spread.
EAB affected all species of native ash found in Ohio. EAB larvae feed on the living portion of the tree, directly beneath the bark. This eating habit restricts the tree’s ability to move essential water and nutrients throughout. In three to five years, even the healthiest tree is unable to survive this attack.
“The commission always tries to find a location which represents some of the symbolic lessons trees provide us, such as new growth, transformation from a small seedling to a beautiful canopy,” Maurer said.
“The Art Center serves as such an example, as the vision which was planted many years
ago in the creation of the Art Center for our community, has grown into one of the finest Art Centers in our region and therefore recognized is recognized for their growth and commitment to our community,” he said.
In a press release, Perry praised the Art Center for proactively working to replace the trees that had to be taken down.
“Studies have shown that a strong tree canopy can actually encourage economic development and better health outcomes for communities,” Perry said. “We encourage residents to join and plant trees when able.”
George Whitten, executive director of the Mansfield Art Center, said the 57 new trees were donated by Steve Black, whose family donated the land upon which the center was built in 1971.
“He has an organic tree farm in Maryland and supplies a lot of trees to governments and organizations,” Whitten said. “It’s a huge operation and we’re thankful he’s donating the trees here.”
He said the trees would be planted along Marion Avenue.
“There will still be gaps between the trees so you can see the (Art Center) buildings,” he said. “There will be towering trees and some smaller trees .. and some redbud trees. Everybody misses the redbuds.”
During the ceremony, the Shade Tree Commission presented tokens of appreciation to the City of Mansfield Street Department, the Rotary Club of Mansfield and Lexington Scout Troup 152, who were instrumental in planting the 100 donated trees.
Andres, also had the opportunity to surprise Maurer, Henry and their business “for their unselfish giving of their time and energy, and the 100 trees which were donated.”
