An energetic group of South Jordan residents, staff members and company volunteers joined together for the annual Arbor Day event. “We just appreciate you being here. Thanks for being part of this,” Mayor Dawn Ramsey said. “South Jordan has been proud to be a Tree City since 2012. Tree City U.S.A. is a designation we are proud of and we make sure the signs are all over in the city.”

The event had a dual-purpose of tree planting and free mulch distribution. Eight oak trees were planted in front of the pickle ball courts at South Jordan City Park to add more beauty to the park’s landscape. Planners divided the workers up and the planting was done by one group per tree. South Jordan takes care of just over 9,000 trees within its city boundaries. A group from Rocky Mountain Power was part of the volunteers attending.

“This is a great opportunity to team up with communities that we serve and just show appreciation and just build that camaraderie,” said Nick Jenkins from Rocky Mountain Power. “You know, what’s important to you is important to us.” Joining in the team spirit were students from the American Academy of Innovation, Experlogix, SuperTrees, and Utah Forestry, Fire and State Lands.

A uniquely ‘green’ thing South Jordan does is repurpose their trees. Last fall, residents were encouraged to trim their trees for safety, to make sure the roadways are clear and in compliance with city regulations. Dumpsters were provided by the city where residents took their cuttings. Those branches were mulched into 90 cubic yards of wood mulch.

“We’ll be using sixty cubic yards to line around the trees in the city,” Ramsey said. “The other thirty cubic yards are available for South Jordan residents to pick up for free.” Keeping waste out of landfills is the reason residents are encouraged to mulch their pruned branches. South Jordan’s city logo shows a tree, which reflects their commitment to provide a clean and healthy home town for their residents. λ