Bloomington has been celebrating Arbor Day for 31 years, and used the occasion this year to announce a campaign to beautify downtown.
The campaign, called the Downtown Square Tree Campaign, will lead to the growing of 26 trees around the County Courthouse.
"It's a wonderful collaboration between the parks foundation and others and the city to try an make sure we're building creating the right tree environment for the generations to come," says Bloomington Mayor John Hamilton, who spoke at the event. "So it's an exciting investment in the future."
Sixteen of the 26 trees have already been planted, and the remaining trees are expected to be placed by 2017.
Those willing to sponsor a tree can pay $2,000 to have a plaque with a personalized message placed at a tree's base for the next decade.
"I have known for a few years that there would be a need to replace the trees downtown," says Jim Murphy, President of CFC Properties, who will be sponsoring a tree. "The need is here, they are all aging out at about the same time."
Bloomington also announced a $12,000 grant from the state to continue their planting efforts.
In addition, the city will host its first Tree Festival on June 10th at Buskirk Park.