The city of Ypsilanti will plant 500 trees Friday and Saturday on the Water Street property, ahead of Earth Day.
Rain or shine, volunteers are planting trees in the the Ypsilanti Tree Nursery located in the southeast corner of Water Street redevelopment area, at the Old Gilbert Park Baseball Diamond.
The city cleared the former Gilbert Park on the Water Street property to install a tree nursery.
Tom Perkins | AnnArbor.com file photo
The nursery can be accessed at the intersection of Park Street and South Street, off of Michigan Avenue, or by crossing the pedestrian bridge on the Water Street trail. Parking is available down side streets and also at the Water Street park.
Volunteers are still needed for the event and can participate in the following shifts on both days: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Organizers are asking volunteers to bring shovels, rakes, hand pruners, pitch forks, 5-gallon buckets and wheelbarrows. Children are welcome, but must be supervised by an adult.
"Mother nature does not always agree with producing the ideal weather conditions when we plan events," City Planner Teresa Gillotti wrote in an email. "Please dress appropriately for the weather and shoes with a closed toe are required for this event."
The city is working to revitalize its "urban forest" and in 2011, the city completed an inventory of its existing public trees. Ypsilanti has about 8,835 trees, stumps, and planting sites not including private backyard trees. Ypsilanti has partnered with ReLeaf Michigan, a nonprofit tree organization, to help recruit and train volunteers to help plant and tend the nursery.
About 125 volunteers are expected to help plant the trees.
Katrease Stafford covers Ypsilanti for AnnArbor.com.Reach her at katreasestafford@annarbor.com or 734-623-2548 and follow her on twitter.