Schools

Milton Families Planting Trees Around the City for Arbor Day

The city donated funds for the school to buy 830 saplings that students' families will plant in designated public spaces around Milton.

Summit Hill Elementary students got to do some show and tell for their families on Feb. 18 as they took home took saplings donated by the city of Milton.

The city helped Summit Hill celebrate Arbor Day by donating $420 to purchase 830 saplings students will plant on public property.

Milton firefighters joined Summit Hill staff and parents Friday, Feb. 18 in handing out the trees to students as they boarded buses and left the school.

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Lynn Tully, Milton's director of Community Development, said the money comes from Milton's Tree Recompense Fund, which developers pay into when they remove trees that cannot be replanted on their property.

"When Summit Hill Elementary called to see if we were interested, we jumped at the chance," said Tully. "This is just part of our commitment to keeping Milton clean, green and serene."

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By law, the money has to go to greenery on public land like parks and fire stations. Students and their parents have been given maps detailing public property and a planting guide created by City Arborist Mark Law. Each has pledged to pitch in and keep Milton verdant.

Abbe Laboda, co-chair of the school's PTA Environmental Education Team, helped coordinate the donation. She said Summit Hill had the idea to give each student his or her own tree to help beautify Milton for Arbor Day.

"We were also looking for a way to partner with our community and create a larger service project," she said.

Laboda, who has been active with the city on a number of projects, contacted Milton to see if a plan could take root. Summit Hill got its trees–830 red buds, maples and oaks, and the students took those trees home for families to plant.


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