Volunteers from across the Twin Cities area are invited to join Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board arborists, local community groups and business volunteers to celebrate Arbor Week by planting trees along boulevards in the tornado-hit areas of North Minneapolis. Adult volunteers are needed to plant trees on Saturday, May 19 from 9 a.m. until noon at Folwell Park, while young volunteers and families can water the 275 trees that were planted in the park last fall following the tornado, build birdhouses, learn about tree care and meet Elmer the Elm Tree. Folwell Park is located at 1615 Dowling Avenue North, Minneapolis. The event will take place rain or shine.

Register to volunteer by emailing volunteer@minneapolisparks.org, calling 612-313-7778 or visiting www.minneapolisparks.org/register and searching using activity numbers 16612 and 16613.

Volunteers are encouraged to dress in long pants and closed-toe shoes and wear clothing that can get dirty. Sunglasses and sunscreen are also recommended. Safety vests and gloves will be provided by the Park Board.

The May 19 community tree planting event is part of the Park Board’s “Northside Treecovery” initiative to plant 3,100 trees in April and May. As part of its efforts, the Park Board will celebrate Arbor Week with tree planting events from May 15-19 including business volunteers assisting with the planting of more than 1,000 boulevard trees in the Camden, Folwell, Jordan, Webber and Willard Hay neighborhoods of North Minneapolis.