Theodore Wirth Regional Park hosts 2019 Minneapolis Arbor Day Celebration on April 26

Join the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) for an entertaining evening in appreciation of trees at the 2019 Minneapolis Arbor Day Celebration at Theodore Wirth Regional Park on April 26, 4-8 pm!

The award-winning festival is full of tree-themed activities and educational opportunities, music, food, beer and, of course, new trees! Anyone can help MPRB Arborists plant 200 new trees. The event will be held in the area of the park between Wirth Lake Beach and JD Rivers’ Children’s Garden, near the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Xerxes Avenue.

Share this event with anyone who may be interested using the easy-to-remember web address, www.minneapolisparks.org/arborday. An initial rundown of events, activities and attractions is below:

Tree Planting

Join MPRB Arborists for tree planting excursions leaving every half hour, 4:30-6:30 pm.

Activities

Bucket truck rides
Rope-and-saddle tree climbing supervised by professional arborists
Tree-sized lawn games
Tree-themed obstacle course/Nature Play Zone
Live Music
Food Trucks
Beer Garden

Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden Boardwalk Dedication

Before the event, stop by the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden in Wirth Park between 2-4 pm for refreshments and a special dedication ceremony (3 pm) heralding a new extension of the garden’s wetland boardwalk.

The new section of boardwalk utilizes the same design as the existing boardwalk, which won a 2017 design award from the Minnesota Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects. It also includes a wide observation area that allows people to pause and study this unique part of the garden without impeding others strolling along the boardwalk.

The MPRB would like to thank the Friends of the Wild Flower Garden for its generous contributions toward the boardwalk project.

Arbor Day Fun Run

The Minnesota Brewery Running Series is planning an Arbor Day 5K Fun Run in conjunction with the 2019 Minneapolis Arbor Day Celebration. The Fun Run begins at 6 pm. Learn more and register at the Arbor Day 5K event page. All proceeds from registration fees will be donated to Brewing a Better Forest for urban forestry outreach and education.

Arbor Day Awards

The Minneapolis Arbor Day Celebration has won two major awards over the last two years:

  • 2018 Legacy Project of the Year Award from the Society of Municipal Arborists
  • 2017 Treescaping Award from the MN Shade Tree Advisory Committee and MN Society of Arboriculture

Volunteer

Volunteers are essential to the success of this growing, fantastic community event. Please contact Sherry Brooks at sbrooks@minneapolisparks.org for more information.