HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Operation Green Team, and volunteers from the community planted 350 trees in John Hunt Park Saturday morning.
This event is part of the city's environmental initiatives, educating the public and bringing cleaner air for the next generation.
A mother and son duo, Callie and Brooks Schweitzer, share they've been a part these tree planting events for most of Brooks life, who is now 11 years old.
"I wanted to plant some trees because it's good for our air and it can decrease pollution," said Brooks.
Mayor Tommy Battle adds, "we got volunteers coming from all over…we're planting 350 trees at John Hunt Park as part of our continual plantings that we have done here. And over the last eight years, we planted thousands of trees in John Hunt Park and you can now see some of them start to mature."
This tree planting initiative comes from the city's 'Operation Green Team.'
Brian Walker, Director of Landscape Management for the city of Huntsville explains, "we're constantly looking at ways that we can be more sustainable throughout the city… tree planting is one of those educations that we put out there."
"I think it's really important to get these young people involved. And so I hope what Brooks does is go back to his class and say, 'hey, I planted trees this weekend,'" said Callie.
John Hunt Park was once home to an airport, now some years later, several different types of trees have been planted, changing its landscape.
"The impact that the trees will provide for the usage of this park, our shade, they take out the carbon in the air. They help filter the oxygen that we breathe," Walker said.
Huntsville's Green Team host multiple tree planting events across the city, throughout the fall and winter.
Before these events, their team comes to the landscapes and punches holes in the ground.
Then volunteers clean out the holes, place the trees in their spot, backfill around them and then, "stomp on around it so the air bubbles can come out," Brooks said.
"And then we hope it rains, it will be good for them too," Callie added.
And with some perfect timing, after all 350 trees were planted, it rained.