Thousands of trees were destroyed during this year's ice storm, now one Washington County city is in the process of replacing them.
"We had limbs stacked up high eight to 10 feet in the air," said Dr. Rick McWhorter, Springdale Parks and Recreation Director.
This October the city received a $54,195 Urban and Community Forestry Assistance grant. The majority of the money goes toward replanting trees at city parks.
"We're probably going to focus on Murphy Park, Tyson Park and J.B. Hunt, those are the largest parks in our system," said McWhorter.
The city could plant anywhere between 300 to 600 trees by next September, when the grant runs out. "It will depend upon how many we can put at a certain area of the park without crowding it so that they'll grow right and we don't know that exact number," said McWhorter.
The city is focusing on three main aspects when it comes to deciding what trees to plant. They must be native, durable and aesthetically pleasing. The city is looking at oak, maple, pine, hickory, dogwood and evergreen.
"If the public can enjoy it then we've done our job, that's all we're asked to do," said McWhorter.
This week the city purchased their first order, which consists of about 180 trees. They will begin planting at the end of the month and hope to be finished by the beginning of the year.
The trees vary in price from about $55 to $80. Their average starting size will be 2.5 inches in diameter, seven feet tall and about 200 pounds in weight.
The city is doing all the planting themselves, but will have the Arkansas Forestry Commission on hand for advice.
Once all the parks are taken care of, if the city has funds or trees left over, they may plant in other parts of town. One area suggested is along Don Tyson Parkway.
"We had limbs stacked up high eight to 10 feet in the air," said Dr. Rick McWhorter, Springdale Parks and Recreation Director.
This October the city received a $54,195 Urban and Community Forestry Assistance grant. The majority of the money goes toward replanting trees at city parks.
"We're probably going to focus on Murphy Park, Tyson Park and J.B. Hunt, those are the largest parks in our system," said McWhorter.
The city could plant anywhere between 300 to 600 trees by next September, when the grant runs out. "It will depend upon how many we can put at a certain area of the park without crowding it so that they'll grow right and we don't know that exact number," said McWhorter.
The city is focusing on three main aspects when it comes to deciding what trees to plant. They must be native, durable and aesthetically pleasing. The city is looking at oak, maple, pine, hickory, dogwood and evergreen.
"If the public can enjoy it then we've done our job, that's all we're asked to do," said McWhorter.
This week the city purchased their first order, which consists of about 180 trees. They will begin planting at the end of the month and hope to be finished by the beginning of the year.
The trees vary in price from about $55 to $80. Their average starting size will be 2.5 inches in diameter, seven feet tall and about 200 pounds in weight.
The city is doing all the planting themselves, but will have the Arkansas Forestry Commission on hand for advice.
Once all the parks are taken care of, if the city has funds or trees left over, they may plant in other parts of town. One area suggested is along Don Tyson Parkway.
