| ONTARIO--What better time to plant a tree than on Earth Day?
And in Ontario, what better tree to plant than the California pepper, the
favorite timber of city founder George Chaffey?
And what better spot to plant a pepper tree in Ontario than at Euclid Avenue
and C Street, 30 feet from the oldest standing pepper tree in Ontario, planted
in 1883?
"It's a hardy shade tree that has a nice lacy look to it, and it doesn't
block the view of traffic from the street," said Cathleen Wentz, executive
director for the Downtown Ontario Business and Professional Association.
During a modest ceremony Wednesday before about 25 city officials and
downtown boosters, six pepper trees were planted to kick off a landscaping
program that when finished will see dozens of such trees shading Euclid Avenue
amid the magnolias there now.
Allegiance Health Care Corp. donated the trees at a cost of $600 to kick off
the program.
Councilman Al Wapner said the gesture was a symbol of the public-private
partnership needed to resurrect historic downtown.
The trees are part of a "streetscape" project that includes new
sidewalks, crosswalks, antique lamps and other amenities likely coming to Euclid
Avenue to trigger private investment.
The City Council approved consultant work for the project and will vote on
whether to fund construction this summer.
The event came two days after Ontario was named a Tree City USA by the
National Arbor Day Foundation for the eighth straight year.
To get the honor, a city needs a tree department or board, a tree caring
ordinance, a forestry program and to observe Arbor Day, said Ken Myers, the
city's parks director.
The city owns 70,000 trees of 65 varieties, Myers said. They provide shade,
which reduces air-conditioning costs. One tree can recycle 26 pounds of carbon
dioxide per year, he added.
"Trees are a big deal here in Ontario," city spokesman George Urch
said. "The city has chosen to make them a priority."
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