Lacey doubles down on environmental commitment

The Lacey City Council officially proclaimed April as Arbor Month and April 22 as Earth Day during a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 1. 

The Arbor Day proclamation, which traces its roots to 1872 when Sterling Morton proposed a tree-planting holiday in Nebraska, celebrates the multifaceted benefits of urban forests.  

The proclamation noted that trees "reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife." 

Chris Vaccaro, a building official from the City of Yelm, continuing a long-standing tree exchange tradition, presented a crimson curled willow tree to the city. 

“It's been a pleasure having Lacey as our sister city, and we are grateful to celebrate another Arbor Day with you,” Vaccaro said. 

"Arbor Day is not just a chance to recognize everything we do for trees, but everything trees do for us," added Vaccaro, highlighting the importance of urban forest protection. 

Earth Day 

The Earth Day proclamation painted a picture of global environmental challenges, stating "the global community now faces extraordinary challenges, such as environmental degradation, global health issues, climate change, food and water shortages." 

The proclamation also emphasized a critical intergenerational responsibility, adding that "all of us have an obligation to preserve the Earth's beauty as well as its resources, this obligation extends not only to today's generation but also to the future generations who will inherit our planet from us." 

Ali Brown, Water Resources Specialist for the City of Lacey, accepted the proclamation and announced two upcoming environmental events at Woodland Creek Community Park.  

The first is an Earth Day celebration on April 19, in which the city will partner with Thurston County Public Works to showcase waste reduction and resource conservation.  

The second is Lacey's Earth Day Challenge on May 3, which will focus on riparian restoration and salmon habitat enhancement. 

Brown noted that community input has revealed sustainability as a top concern, with residents expressing particular interest in maintaining the city's Tree City USA status and exploring electric vehicle infrastructure. 

"This year marks 55 years of Earth Day in the United States, a movement born from grassroots action to protect our planet and its delicate ecosystem," Brown said.

"As humans, we are deeply connected to these systems. Our survival and well-being depend on them.”