Troup County’s TREEmendous Committee will observe Arbor Day by planting trees and shrubbery in front of the Mike Daniel Recreation Center on Lafayette Parkway.

The committee was formed two weeks ago by county planner Nancy Seegar to promote a new county ordinance that aims to protect trees of historical and cultural significance.

Committee co-chair Nancy Green said five Princeton elms will be planted at the recreation center, along with four redbud trees and about 30 oak leaf hydrangea bushes, all native species in Georgia.

A dedication ceremony at the rec center is scheduled for 10 a.m. April 24.

“It will be beautiful,” Todd Stephens of Smith Design Group told county commissioners at a work session Friday, having designed the landscaping at no charge. “Within five years you won’t recognize the place.”

The recreation center already had done some landscaping in the parking lot islands, but nothing along the Parkway.

“It looks 100 percent better already and this will be icing on the cake,” said recreation director Tod Tentler.

Aside from Green, Stephens and Seegar, committee members are Sam Breyfogle, Short Brown, Matt Comerford, Mike Crook, Betty Drinkard, Page Estes, Sandra Jonas, Jackie Kennedy, Kaye Minchew and Cathy Smith.

Under the county’s heritage tree program, property owners can register noteworthy trees or groves of trees.

“We’re looking for people to let us know if they have a tree on their property that they think might be a heritage tree, whether due to its history, age, size, species or ecological value,” said Seegar. “Trees are very important to our culture and to maintaining the character of an area … We think it’s a quality of life issue.”

She said the ordinance “gives us the opportunity to save trees but is not overly burdensome for property owners.”

Nominated trees will be reviewed by a county arborist, who will look at their health, aerial space and root system. Heritage trees are unlawful to remove, cut, prune or injure without a permit from the arborist.

“Developers could clear cut property unless heritage trees are designated as such,” Seegar said. “The developer has to make every effort to save heritage trees.”

The heritage tree register may include listings of the oldest, tallest, largest and rarest of native and exotic tree species in Troup County .

“Troup County has many great trees,” said Kaye Minchew, director of Troup County Archives. “We have many beautiful shade trees while others are especially wonderful during the spring blooming season or fall foliage.

“Some of these trees have stood vigil for longer than Troup County’s 182 years of existence. Many are treasured by their property owners but after the owners die, the trees are lost to new development. The heritage tree program will help ensure the long-term survival of these trees.”

Anyone with trees they would like to be considered for the program may contact Seegar at (706) 883-1650 or at nseegar@troupco.org .