NEBRASKA CITY – Nebraska City became the Home of Arbor Day because of the work of J. Sterling Morton 150 years ago and it upholds that tradition today with shovel in hand.

The city topped off construction of electrical, water and street infrastructure for a 27-acre, publicly-funded housing subdivision with a tree planting supported by the Nebraska Forest Service and Nebraska Statewide Arboretum through the Ten Free Trees Program.

 

 

NCTC’s Amy Allgood credited Construction and Facilities Manager Marty Stovall for consistent grant writing and resource marshaling for tree plantings.

Allgood: “You’re like the J. Sterling Morton of our time.”

She admitted that Stovall has the advantage of technology to have trees delivered.

Allgood: “You don’t have to go the creek bed anymore and dig them up.”

 

The planting meets the goal for diversity with red bud, Kentucky coffee, catalpa, northern pecan and bur oak trees.

Stovall: “Someday in 20 years, it’s going to be very cool. But we start today.”

Rob Schreiner of the Nebraska City Tree Board said bur oaks were widespread in the area when it was a milking cow operation and Grundman Airfield, so two of the large trees are planted at the top of the hill along newly paved Grundman Boulevard.

Stovall: “this is the start. There’s going to be a lot more private and street trees in this subdivision. Today is just day one.”

Stovall hopes new home owners will take advantage of the city’s tree rebate program to get roots in the ground for a new tree canopy.

 

https://rivercountry.newschannelnebraska.com/story/46902516/after-100-years-city-gets-aggressive-for-housing