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The city of Peoria, along with the Peoria Unified School District and Salt River Project, planted 21 trees at Skunk Creek Trailhead on April 15.
Twenty-three Peoria High School students from the Agriculture and Environmental Sciences program helped plant the remaining 20 trees of SRP’s Right Place, Right Tree program and one tree donated by the Peoria Women’s Club.
“The Peoria Parks and Recreation Department is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with SRP on this important program to protect electrical service delivery while also enhancing the overall community forestry shade canopy and aesthetics for our residents,” Peoria arborist Brandon Putman said. “It was also fantastic to re-invigorate our long-standing relationship with the Peoria High School Agriculture and Environmental Science program, giving students some hands-on experience in the education of proper tree planting.”
Beginning in January, Peoria and SRP partnered for the Right Tree, Right Place program. Nearly 170 trees that posed a risk to electric lines and service reliability in Peoria have been removed and 500 trees have been planted at various Peoria parks, streetscapes and retention basins to offset the loss.
At the event on April 15, Mayor Pro Tem Vick Hunt shared the city’s appreciation for SRP’s and PUSD’s commitments to environmental stewardship as well as read a proclamation in which Peoria Mayor Cathy Carlat declared April 29 as Arbor Day in the city of Peoria.
Skunk Creek Trailhead, 10591 N. 83rd Ave., was selected for the final 21 trees because it is a regional birding hotspot. The riparian area at the Skunk Creek Trailhead is home to owls, raptors, and migrant songbirds. The new 500 trees will add shade, expand the city’s tree canopy and wildlife habitats, and reduce the urban heat island effect throughout Peoria.
