The walkabout program, a focus of the meeting, aims to increase community involvement and awareness of urban forestry. Set to occur during the first two weeks of June, these educational tree walks will guide participants through neighborhood routes, highlighting tree health and offering practical advice on pruning and watering. Discussion at the meeting emphasized that these walks should be inclusive, encouraging participation from a diverse group of community members, including children and individuals with disabilities. Considerations were made regarding the accessibility of certain trails, with a consensus to ensure routes are navigable for all, including those using public sidewalks over unpaved paths.

The program’s organizers also plan to integrate families by recommending parental accompaniment for children under twelve. The League of Women Voters will play a role in promoting the event through flyers and local media. The idea of distributing personal invitations to residents along the chosen routes was proposed to boost community engagement. This initiative seeks to address a noted gap in public knowledge regarding the care of newly planted trees, with a commission member pointing out that many residents are unaware of the need to water city-planted trees.

The discussion also touched on the potential for expanding these educational walks in future years, possibly incorporating seasonal variations like autumn walks when tree branches are more visible. This would provide additional learning opportunities and help address ongoing issues such as the emerald ash borer’s impact on local trees. Participants acknowledged the financial difficulties faced by homeowners with ash trees and underscored the city’s reimbursement programs for tree removal and replacement.

In addition to the walkabout program, the commission heard from Amber Grimmels, a STEM teacher, who shared her experiences with natural resource education. She highlighted her efforts in establishing a school forest and the engagement of students in planting and maintaining trees. Despite challenges posed by hazardous conditions in the forest, Grimmels noted the successful removal of invasive buckthorn and expressed a desire to expand the variety of fruit trees on campus. Her initiative aligns with the commission’s goals of fostering environmental stewardship among youth, particularly through hands-on service learning projects.

The meeting also included updates on ongoing city projects. The Parks and Recreation Department reported the addition of over 30 new trees in various parks as part of efforts to combat the loss of ash trees due to disease. This, coupled with the city receiving its 21st Tree City USA designation, underscores a continued commitment to urban forestry. Furthermore, the Public Works Superintendent provided an update on the removal of 51 stumps from diseased trees and the installation of wood chips in place of oversized tree grates downtown, aimed at mitigating issues with overgrown trees.

Lastly, the commission addressed budget matters, reviewing the previous year’s finances and proposing the upcoming budget. A motion to approve the 2026 budget request was passed unanimously. As the meeting concluded, participants were reminded of the next scheduled gathering on July 3, 2025, and encouraged to submit any additional agenda items in advance.