Bartow Elementary, city celebrating Tree City USA award
PHOTO BY MARY CANNADAY
Brady Draper's fourth grade class at Bartow Elementary Academy each received an oak tree to take home and plant, as part of a ceremony held by the school, the city of Bartow, and the state forestry service. Bartow, for the second year, has been awarded the Tree City USA designation by the Florida Division of Forestry. It is a nationwide award based on the care the city gives its trees. In the photo with Mr. Draper and his students are Bartow Mayor Leo Longworth and Smokey Bear.
Bartow has long been a city of unabashed tree-huggers. The City of Oaks and Azaleas has for the second year in a row been named a Tree City USA, a national award from the Forestry Service.
Fourth graders in Brady Draper’s class at Bartow Elementary Academy teamed with city officials that included Mayor Leo Longworth and City Councilman Pat Huff and state foresters (as well as Smokey Bear) for an Arbor Day presentation followed by a proclamation in the school’s courtyard. A huge palm tree was planted and oak trees given to each student to plant at home, courtesy of Bartow’s Parks and Recreation Department.
