Desk Clocks from Seminary Park Trees to be Presented to Bloomington Tree Fund Donors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 19, 2012

For more information contact

Karin St. John, Executive Director, Bloomington Parks Foundation, (812) 349-3700 or [stjohnk@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:stjohnk@bloomington.in.gov]

Lee Huss, Urban Forester, Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department, (812) 349-3716 or [hussl@bloomington.in.gov|mailto:hussl@bloomington.in.gov]

Bloomington, IN - Powerful storms that tore through Bloomington last May resulted in the loss of several trees throughout the city and the IU campus. Some of Bloomington's oldest and largest trees, most notably an ash and red oak in [Seminary Park|288] at 100 W. Second Street, were toppled in the storm's high winds.

[Desk clock made from a fallen red oak from Seminary Park.|image:11941,right][Bloomington Parks and Recreation's urban forestry program|treecare] has partnered with the [Bloomington Parks Foundation|parkfoundation] to give the red oak from Seminary Park new life in the form of desk clocks, hand made by local woodworker Steve Lessmann.

The Bloomington Parks Foundation is accepting donations for the Bloomington Tree Fund to help replace street trees that are removed each year due to declining health or infrastructure improvements.

"We know Bloomington is a town that loves its trees," said Karin St. John, Exeuctive Director of the Bloomington Parks Foundation. "Arbor Day is coming up April 27, so it is a perfect time to remind our citizens that we still need their help to keep Bloomington's streets green and lined with trees."

St. John said that, in appreciation of a gift to the Bloomington Tree Fund of $1,000 or more, one of the clocks made from the fallen Seminary Park trees will be presented to the donor. Each of the 50 clocks is numbered, and engraved with a tree logo and the words "Seminary Park - Bloomington, Indiana."

More information about the Bloomington Tree Fund will be available at the city's Arbor Day ceremony on Friday, April 27 at 11 a.m. at the Monroe County Public Library. Library and city staff will plant an American elm tree on North Lincoln Street in celebration of Arbor Day, and of Bloomington's 28th consecutive year as a Tree City USA.

To make a donation to the Bloomington Tree Fund, [fill out the donation form in the Bloomington Tree Fund brochure|file:Tree_Fund_brochure_0112.pdf] or call the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department at (812) 349-3700.

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