Third Annual Arbor Day Pledge at Noble Creek Community Park in Beaumont

The 3rd Annual Arbor Day Pledge in Beaumont is planned Monday April 30 at Noble Creek Community Park, the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Recreation and Park District announced Tuesday.

The event is to mark National Arbor Day on April 27.

Historians say Arbor Day began in Nebraska in 1872, where residents were encouraged to celebrate and enhance their communities by planting trees.

"If everyone in our community plants a tree native to the area, we'd not only create a new wildlife habitat and shade in our community, but we'd also help absorb carbon dioxide from our air over the lives of the trees," Diane Gonzalez of the rec and park district said in a statement Tuesday.

The rec and park district is partnering with the City of Beaumont, Beaumont Youth Baseball and , and the district is urging residents to donate trees for planting.

"Donate an Italian Stone Pine or an Ornamental Pear and plant it at Noble Creek Park on Monday, April 30 in honor of National Arbor Day 2012," Gonzalez said.

To mark the city's Centennial, Beaumont officials plan to donate a 30-gallon deodar tree to the new Franco Gardens at Noble Creek, Gonzalez said. A tree-planting ceremony is scheduled at 4 p.m. in the Gardens.

Donated trees will be planted near the horse area from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

For more information about donating a tree to the Beaumont-Cherry Valley Recreation and Park District call Diane at (951) 845-9555.