For Immediate Release: Saturday, April 26, 2008
For More Information: Katie Rampino, Development & Marketing, (716) 838-1249 ext. 30

MAYOR BROWN PLANTS FIRST SPRING TREE IN AN OLMSTED PARK
Olmsted Community Tree Plantings are Underway

Mayor Byron W. Brown joined the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy today to plant the first tree of spring in Martin Luther King, Jr. Park. The planting kicks off the Olmsted spring Community Tree Plantings. Over the next two weekends, hundreds of community volunteers will plant 320 trees in Cazenovia, Heacock (near South Park), Martin Luther King, Jr., Delaware, Prospect (near Front Park) and Riverside parks.

"Today marks the official start of the tree planting season," said Mayor Brown. "Thank you to hundreds of community volunteers who will spend several hours helping to reforest the Olmsted parks and enhance the entire community."

The tree plantings are part of an on-going effort to reforest the Olmsted Parks in response to the October 2006, surprise storm. Almost ninety percent of the more than 11,000 trees in the Olmsted system were affected by the storm and the Conservancy is still working hard to restore these community parks from the extensive damage. Thirty-five types of trees native to the area will be planted this spring, including: Sugar Maples, Red Maples, Swamp White Oaks, River Birch, Red Oaks and Bur Oaks.

"Thank you to Mayor Brown for supporting this event and several other projects in the parks," said Thomas Herrera-Mishler, chief executive officer at Olmsted Parks Conservancy. "We are replenishing the urban forests, exercising and enjoying the fresh air. It is a good day for the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy and the community."

The Community Tree Plantings are supported in part by a contribution from the $1 million reforestation fund designated by Mayor Brown in the 2007-2008 budget for recovery efforts around the city. Other funds are from community donations to the Olmsted ReLeaf Fund, a recovery appeal formed by the Conservancy in response to devastating storm damage. Entercom radio provided media support.

A second set of tree plantings will be held next Saturday, May 3 in Delaware, Prospect (near Front Park) and Riverside parks from 9am - Noon. Community volunteers will have another opportunity to make an important impact on the Buffalo community while having fun and enjoying the fresh air in an Olmsted Park. To volunteer call (716) 838-1249 ext. 15 or visit www.buffaloolmstedparks.org.

2008 marks the thirty-year anniversary of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, a not-for-profit, membership-based, community organization, with the mission to broaden awareness of, appreciation for, and investment in the Buffalo Olmsted Park System in order to enhance, restore and maintain this historic cultural treasure for the benefit of current and future generations. Later this year, the Conservancy will unveil its Plan for the 21 st Century, a blueprint for the future. The Olmsted System is the first of its kind in the nation designed by America's greatest landscape architect, Frederick Law Olmsted. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Buffalo's Olmsted Parks are frequented by millions annually.

For More Information:
Katie Rampino, Development & Marketing, (716) 838-1249 ext. 30
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