Due to forecasted inclement weather, the Arbor Day Celebration at Tuten Park is being rescheduled for Sunday, January 28 from 1 to 4 p.m. The park will give native seedlings — river birches, red maples, Nuttall oaks, and Shumard oaks — to the first 400 attendees.

The City of Lake Charles is planning an Arbor Day event at Tuten Park that will feature local environmental and nature-focused organizations as well as free trees for guests to take home. The annual event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, January 27. Arbor Day at Tuten Park is hosted by the City, Team Green, Junior Team Green, and the Coastal Plain Conservancy. 

The park will give native seedlings — river birches, red maples, Nuttall oaks, and Shumard oaks — to the first 400 attendees. The Coastal Plain Conservancy is donating the trees. Local conservation organizations, garden clubs, and area student organizations will be among those with booths at the event. 

The public is encouraged to attend this free event, learn about conservation efforts happening across Southwest Louisiana, and plant a free tree at home.

Arbor Day was founded in 1872 to celebrate planting trees and the ecosystem services that trees provide to communities. Trees reduce the energy needed to cool homes in the summer, increase the value of homes, reduce the impact of storm water, and provide habitat for wildlife.

Tuten Park was donated to the city to be a bird, native flower and tree sanctuary for the enjoyment and education of area youth. For more information about the park, visit www.cityoflakecharles.com/tutenpark or call 337 491-8770. Like and follow the Friends of Tuten Park on Facebook to keep up to date with this and future events: facebook.com/friendsoftutenpark.

About Friends of Tuten Park.

Friends of Tuten Park consists of private citizens committed to the mission and support of Tuten Park.  The Friends of Tuten Park strive to restore and preserve habitat for wildlife, provide interpretive and educational programs to the community, and create support in the extended community for conservation opportunities. Any interested person, organization, or school who supports the mission of the Friends of Tuten Park is encouraged to join.