Tree Planting Will Go On
After the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board had to postpone a planned Arbor Day block party in the North Loop—complete with the planting of 130 trees—they polled local leaders about what to do next. Should they wait until the party’s rescheduled, or plant the trees now and try to have a party later?
“There was pretty much unanimous desire for trees to arrive ASAP,” said Philip Potyondy, sustainable forestry coordinator for the MPRB.
Most of the trees are now sitting in a storage area along the Mississippi River and several arborists are scheduled to transport them to the North Loop this coming week to plant them, mostly along 3rd Street North, one of the least leafy streets in the neighborhood.
Most of the trees will be planted along 3rd Street between 5th and 8th Avenues.
The Park and Rec Board hosts Arbor Day parties like this each year, and they’ve always been in neighborhood parks before this year. This is their first celebration in the downtown area.
This year’s party was set to include live music, food trucks, tree-themed beers from local breweries and family activities. Whether it gets rescheduled is dependent on the current health situation and guidelines regarding large gatherings.
By Mike Binkley, North Loop Neighborhood Association