State-Journal.com - Reforesting the city

Photo By Hilly SchifferOlivia Elkins, 6 of Frankfort, helps Jeff Alexander, an art teacher at Kentucky State University, plant trees along the Kentucky River during the Reforest Frankfort/Arbor Day Event at the Old Lawrenceburg Boat Ramp Saturday.

Photo By Hilly SchifferSarah Lewis and Kayla Smith, both seniors in Western Hills High School's National Honor Society, help plant trees.

With more than 400 volunteers helping, it only took about two hours to plant 2,000 trees along the banks of the Kentucky River.

A number of sponsors organized the effort on behalf of Arbor Day, which Gov. Steve Beshear proclaimed Friday. City Arborist Andrew Cammack says he’d expected about 200 or 300 and was surprised by the turnout.

The agenda included provisions to plant any extra trees today but Cammack said all 2,000 were in the ground by 11 a.m. Saturday. The trees included a variety of species native to Franklin County including Kentucky coffee tree, dogwood, persimmon and hickory.

Cammack said the trees were selected because they’re resistant to flooding.

“The whole idea was to create a buffer along the river to slow down erosion and runoff.”

The trees were planted along the river between the boat dock on Old Lawrenceburg Road and the Julian M. Carroll Bridge.

Cammack said the area is frequently flooded and suffers from erosion.

“We have a lot of banks that are slumping into the river,” he said. “The trees will help hold them up.”

This is the first time such a large event has been organized for Arbor Day in Frankfort, Cammack said.

The city has been named a “Tree City” 12 times by the National Arbor Day Foundation for its urban forestry accomplishments.

However, Cammack said it’s important not to become complacent which is easy because people are becoming more environmentally conscious.

“I’ve seen over the years how people are becoming ‘greener’ in their attitudes. I think this event shows that.”

The Arbor Day activities were also a good opportunity to showcase the area, Cammack said. It belongs to the Kentucky River Authority and gets little public use but is a great place to take your dog or play Frisbee, he said.

Cammack said he plans to organize similar events in the future to plant trees along other streams and creeks such as Elkhorn or Benson creeks.

“We’re delighted with what’s happening. We hope it gets better.”

There were also several tents with kid’s activities, music and informational displays on recycling, climate change and trees. Several state, city and county officials also participated including Mayor Gippy Graham.

Lauren Houston is one of several local musicians who participated. She’s a singer-songwriter and gave a 30-minute solo performance. In addition to providing musical entertainment, Houston also helped plant trees.

“It’s very important,” she said. “Even if I wasn’t playing I would be planting a tree somewhere today.”

Houston said her music was well received and she thought the location and weather were perfect.

“I don’t think it could get any better,” she said.

Cammack said it was expected to rain Saturday night, which is good for the newly planted trees. The weather Saturday was warm and sunny with temperatures around 60. However, the forecast for Monday includes a 30 percent chance of snow.

“I don’t think we could have been any luckier,” Cammack said.