Arbor Day at Berntsen Park
“Whereas, the City of Issaquah celebrates Arbor Day year-around with many events to enhance and expand our tree canopy… I, Mary Lou Pauly, Mayor of the City of Issaquah, do hereby proclaim that Issaquah celebrates Arbor Day, and carries that spirit through our activities, policies, and priorities all year long.”
Mayor Mary Lou Pauly delivers her Arbor Day proclamation. Photo by Nicole Assumpcao.
Such was the address delivered by Mayor Mary Lou Pauly to open IATC’s Arbor Day restoration event at Berntsen Park. As a designated Tree City USA for the past thirty years, Issaquah has long prided itself on the prevalence and variety of its forest friends. One need only look up in Issaquah to see how much trees mean to the town - according to recent LIDAR data, we are home to approximately 220,000 trees, a number that (much to Mayor Pauly’s delight) far exceeds its ~40,000 residents.
Group photo featuring volunteers. Photo by Matt Mechler.
Berntsen park was once a homestead, and as such the majority of the native vegetation was wiped out for lawn and pasture, then overtaken by invasive blackberry bushes. Significant restoration efforts have been underway for many years now. Moving forward, the task is to continue repopulating the stream-side park with native plants so the local wildlife - including the stream’s salmon - can continue to thrive as they have for so many years.
Dan Hintz offering some planting tips. Photo by Nicole Assumpcao
A small group of volunteers came together on the gray Thursday morning under the guidance of fearless leaders Anne Newcomb (IATC), Dan Hintz (City of Issaquah) and Matt Mechler (City of Issaquah) to aid in the continued reforestation of Berntsen park. After opening comments from the mayor and our guides, we got to work. Close to 100 trees and shrubs and starts were positioned strategically around the park like a belated easter-egg hunt, waiting for intrepid volunteers to find them and nestle them into their new homes. Among the plants were Oregon ash, elderberries, some small starts of conifers such as Douglas fir, a few maples, and assorted other native shrubs. Many of the park’s existing trees that now tower over us started in similar restoration efforts years ago, planted by hands just like ours. To look at these small wisps of starts and imagine the habitats and sustenance they will provide for years to come is an incredible exercise in patience and a deep experience of hope.
Volunteers planting. Photo by Nicole Assumpcao.
Volunteers were comprised of everyone from high schoolers to retirees, and included one neighbor who joked that he appreciated everyone coming together to work on his front yard. That is the beauty of Issaquah’s plentiful green spaces - they become part of our own homes, and a beautiful space to share and come together in local community.
Volunteer debate the best direction to face their plant - and give her a name. Photo by Nicole Assumpcao.
This was my first time doing restoration work, and I look forward to being able to see the fruits of my labor for years to come. If you’d like to join in the fun, future restoration days are posted on our events page. The next restoration day at Berntsen Park will be on June 3rd; click here to sign up.
Arbor Day proclamation by Mayor Mary Lou Pauly