The City of LaGrange recognized Arbor Day by planting trees at Eastside Park last week. A total of 150 trees have been planted in Eastside Park and the new Southbend Park, according to Alton West, the director of community development for the city of LaGrange. 

In Georgia, Arbor Day is officially celebrated the third Friday of February. LaGrange has been recognized as a Tree City USA participant for the last 18 years, as have 154 other cities in our state.

Trees are great for shade, but they also offer other benefits as well — including many things we probably don’t think about.

According to ArborDay.org, trees help clean out the air. For example, in Kansas City, it’s estimated that trees remove 26,000 tons of pollution from the air each year. Roadside trees also help reduce indoor air pollution by more than 50 percent, according to a study by Lancaster University.

Obviously, cleaning the air has positive benefits for our health. Studies show that community forests save an average of one life per year and office workers with a view of trees report significantly less stress and more satisfaction.

One large tree can provide a day’s supply of oxygen for up to four people, according to the website. Even more amazing, more than 20 percent of the world’s oxygen is produced in the Amazon Rainforest.

Anyone who has been to the lake on a hot day knows that a nice shade tree makes a real difference, but the numbers are still astounding. Using trees as shaded surfaces can lower temperatures by 20 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

Trees help reduce the effects of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide, removing and storing the carbon and releasing oxygen back into the air. According to the ArborDay.org website, an acre of mature trees absorbs the amount of carbon dioxide produced by a car driven 26,000 miles.

Trees also benefit wildlife, allows us to save on energy costs and can even help reduce crime.

As the temperature rises, people begin working in their flower beds and cleaning up their yard, so it’s the perfect time to plant a tree. Of course, before you did, it’s recommended that you call 811 to check for underground utilities.

We applaud of the City of LaGrange’s efforts to continue planting trees, which can only have a positive effect on our community.