Building Community, One Tree at a Time

On Saturday, November 13th, community members from Front Royal came together to do their part in helping our town achieve its Tree City USA designation by planting six Willow Oaks at the Gertrude E. Miller Community Park. The tree planting was made possible through leadership from the Warren County Democratic Committee (WCDC), in collaboration with the Town of Front Royal Public Works, Warren County Parks & Rec, the Front Royal/Warren County Tree Stewards, and Town Arborist, Jim Osborn. Funding for the trees was procured by WCDC through the Virginia Department of Forestry’s (VDOF) Virginia Trees for Clean Water grant. 

Volunteers put the finishing touches on the first Willow Oak to be planted during a demo planting led by Town Arborist, Jim Osborn. 

“This was a great opportunity to get our membership involved with a project that benefits the community and our local environment,” commented Paul Miller, outreach director for the WCDC. “What we all have in common here in Front Royal is a love and respect for our beautiful valley.”

More than 20 volunteers assisted with the planting at the Gertrude E. Miller Community park, adjacent to Bing Crosby Stadium. The location was chosen because the newly planted trees will offer shade to the playground equipment, which is hot to the touch in summer months, and because it accomplishes one of the key metrics of the DOF grant — to convert turf to trees. Osborn explained the choice of tree: “We chose Willow Oaks because they are hardy and can tolerate various soil conditions. They grow up to 60 ft tall with a roughly 35 ft spread, which means they’ll provide good shade and a healthy canopy for residents and wildlife to enjoy.” After a planting demonstration, all six trees were in the ground within two hours, firmly staked to keep them growing straight and lined with a mesh to keep the bark safe from any wildlife inclined to rub or nibble. 

Justin Proctor, a local conservationist assisting with the effort, was excited to see months of planning come to fruition. “Planting trees around our town is a win-win for everyone — we all get to share in more aesthetically engaging landscapes, we create habitat and food for our birds and pollinators, and we cool the town down during our hot summer months. The added benefits of carbon sequestration and oxygen production just sweeten the deal!”

After such a successful planting, everyone is eager to keep the momentum going. Melody Hotek, President of the Tree Stewards, sums up that feeling well: “Our Town has held the Tree City USA status for over 20 years, and that’s something to be proud of! Planting and caring for trees is such an all-around rewarding experience, but it takes time, effort, and collaboration to continue fostering healthy urban forestry throughout Front Royal. We really encourage more of our residents to get involved by contacting our group.”

If you’re interested in learning more, and/or participating in a future planting, don’t hesitate to connect with the Tree Stewards via their website: treesfrontroyal.org. And be sure to swing by the playground at the Gertrude E. Miller Community Park to see the new Willow Oaks!

One of six Willow Oaks now residing on the playground at the Gertrude E. Miller Community Park in Front Royal. We look forward to seeing them leaf out and grow this coming Spring!