Correspondent photo / Chris McBride Councilman Michael Shrodek, D-5th Ward, left, and Councilwoman Tina Milner, D-2nd Ward, right, both members of the Warren City Arbor Commission, dig the hole that will host a new tree near the Packard Park playground behind Packard Music Hall on a rainy Arbor Day celebration Saturday morning. Also helping was commission member Ken Davis, center. Mayor Doug Franklin gave a proclamation to mark the day.

WARREN — The rain cleared long enough Saturday for Warren officials to mark April 25 as Arbor Day during a tree planting at Packard Park.

The tree planting took place near the Packard Park playground behind Packard Music Hall as organizers were presented with a formal proclamation recognizing the holiday.

Warren Mayor Doug Franklin stood alongside and presented the Warren City Arbor Commission with a proclamation designating April 25 as Arbor Day in Warren. Commission members at the ceremony were Councilman Michael Shrodek, D-5th Ward, and Councilwoman Tina Milner, D-2nd Ward, Danita Davis and Ken Davis.

“We’ve been given a great gift by God,” Franklin said during the brief ceremony calling for the planting of trees and a sign caring for the city’s urban canopy.

He highlighted the benefits of planting more trees across the city to create a healthy tree canopy, saying that more trees bring cleaner air and water.

“Trees add immense value to our community,” said Lydia Lynch, Health and Wellness Coordinator for Trumbull Neighborhood Partnership and adviser to the Arbor Commission. “They improve air quality, provide shade and enhance the beauty of our public spaces.

The ceremonial planting is tied to the Mahoning Valley TreeCorps program, a collaborative initiative aimed at planting 5,500 shade trees across Youngstown and Warren.

Trees are placed in tree lawns with resident permission, public parks and open green spaces. Since 2024, more than 500 trees have already been planted in Warren through TNP’s involvement in the effort.

Shrodek, who helped dig the hole for the ceremonial tree despite wet conditions, said there are multifaceted benefits of trees, from producing oxygen and providing shade and beauty to stabilizing riverbanks like along the Mahoning River against erosion, and offering habitat for wildlife.

“Trees are very important” to the ecosystem, he said, adding that council members are excited about reestablishing tree canopies.

He also advocated that dying or hazardous trees removed during projects like sidewalk replacements be replaced with one to two trees to maintain the urban forest.

“The benefits far outweigh the negatives,” Shrodek said.

Shrodek encouraged residents to get involved in future plantings, cleanups or maintenance through TNP or the Arbor Commission.