Tree board schedules Arbor Day walk at Horizon View; parks advisory to partner on outreach

Lake Forest Park — The city's Tree Board will lead a public tree walk at Horizon View Park on Sunday, April 27, as an Arbor Day event and a chance to promote the city's self-guided tree-walk resources.

Mark Phillips, representing the Tree Board, said the walk will start at 1 p.m. and follow a route that highlights specimen trees in and around the park; the board estimated turnout at 35 to 40 people. "It's an Arbor Day event," a participant said during discussion, and the walk will emphasize tree identification and local urban forestry information.

The Parks & Recreation Advisory Board discussed logistics and agreed to partner on outreach. Board members proposed a portable speaker system to amplify the guide's remarks while the group walks, signage or a vinyl banner to advertise the project, and an organized table and tent at a central park location for check-in and materials. Mark said the Tree Board will provide a table and a tent and will coordinate with city staff on tent use and any permits.

The group also discussed offering light refreshments and scheduling a separate mosaic day and garden-tour booth to cross-promote events. The Secret Garden Tour committee will display mock-ups and provide information at upcoming community events, and Charlotte Arts offered to help with promotional channels.

Board members spoke about longer-term opportunities to tie tree walks to other park routes and programs, including possible self-guided routes that could link several parks. Suggestions included QR-coded signs or numbered markers in parks that link to the Tree Walk pages on the city's website.

Nut graf: The April 27 tree walk is both a stand-alone Arbor Day program and part of a broader plan to publicize existing self-guided tree walks and connect residents with parks through on-site signage, QR codes and joint promotions.

The Tree Board and Parks Advisory Board agreed to finalize speaker and tent logistics, to coordinate timing with other events (the garden tour on June 14 and a tree-walk booth planned for an earlier community event), and to use the walk to encourage broader public use of the city's online resources. Mark asked for volunteer help and said the Tree Board would follow up with the Parks Board on practical details such as which flat staging area in Horizon View Park to use for table and check-in and whether a wagon would be helpful to move equipment.

Ending: The boards plan to promote the April 27 Arbor Day walk via city email, event posters and the garden-tour and arts organizations; the Tree Board will submit any required permit paperwork to city staff and will coordinate with Parks Advisory volunteers for outreach and event-day logistics.