Main Navigation

Students join Detroit Metropolitan Airport, Wayne County Parks and partners for fourth annual Arbor Day event

2019 marks the largest year yet for the event

News Releases
Apr 23 2019

SUMPTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. (April 23, 2019) – Nearly 300 students will learn about the environment with a hands-on approach, while giving back to the community, during the fourth annual Arbor Day event sponsored by Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Wayne County Parks and their partners. This year’s theme is “Trees, Bees and Me.” Sixth graders from Romulus Middle School and Renton Junior High School in New Boston will learn about sustainability; the important role of bees, trees and insects in the ecosystem; and the value of wetlands. The opening ceremony will begin at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, April 26 at Crosswinds Marsh Wetlands Interpretive Preserve, 27600 Haggerty Road, Sumpter Township.

Crosswinds Marsh is one of the largest and most successful wetland mitigation projects in the country. The 1000-acre nature preserve is maintained by Wayne County Parks under an agreement with the Wayne County Airport Authority—which operates Detroit Metropolitan Airport and Willow Run Airport—making Crosswinds Marsh the ideal location for this collaboration.

Throughout the event, students will participate in discussions that explain the importance of bees to our food system and how our food supply will be impacted by the decline in bee populations. Participants will have a chance to watch bees in an observation hive and take honey from local beehives. Several Michigan native trees will also be planted at the park. Students will leave the park with their own saplings to plant at home in honor of Arbor Day.

“The Wayne County Airport Authority is committed to giving back to the community,” said WCAA CEO Chad Newton. “There is no better way to do that than by educating a child and leaving an imprint on their minds. Arbor Day is an event that we look forward to every year. And – this marks our largest year ever. We are truly honored to be a sponsor of such a wonderful experience for children.”

“Wayne County is happy to again partner with the Airport for the annual Arbor Day event,” said Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans. “Year after year, this experience continues to create lasting memories for our participants with engaging activities and lessons in the great outdoors. We hope this year’s event will inspire our youth to be lifelong stewards of our natural resources.”

“United Lawnscape takes pride in not only educating today’s youth on how to plant trees, but to help show why it is so important for the health of the environment and ourselves,” said United Lawnscape Vice President Steve Young. “It is our hope that Crosswinds Marsh will be an open door that our current and future generations can walk through for many Arbor Days to come.”

Representatives from the Airport Authority and Wayne County Parks will kick off the Arbor Day event with a brief program at 9:15 a.m. Immediately following, students will rotate between six learning stations hosted by United Lawnscape, Green Toe Gardens, Wayne County Conservation District and Wayne County Parks. Students from Huron High School will give back to their community by assisting the younger children at the stations. The festivities will end around 2:00 p.m.

Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) welcomed more than 35 million passengers in 2018 and is one of the world’s leading air transportation hubs. With service from 13 scheduled passenger airlines, Michigan’s largest airport offers approximately 1,100 flights per day to and from more than 140 nonstop destinations on four continents. With two award-winning passenger terminals, six jet runways, and an onsite AAA Four-Diamond Westin Hotel, DTW is among the world’s most efficient, customer friendly and operationally capable airports in North America.  DTW is operated by the Wayne County Airport Authority, which also operates nearby Willow Run Airport – an important corporate, cargo and general aviation facility.  The Airport Authority is entirely self-sustaining and does not receive tax dollars to support airport operations.   Visit www.metroairport.com for more information.

Wayne County Parks is a division of the Wayne County Department of Public Services with the purpose of enhancing the quality of life for families and citizens of the 43 communities of Wayne County. We maintain 5,600 acres of parkland and operate 35 parks, one golf course, and the Wayne County Family Aquatic Center. Wayne County Parks holds dozens of educational and recreational events all year long including field trips, nature walks, and host classic annual events such as the Marshmallow Drops at Nankin Mills and Elizabeth Park, Jazz on the River and LightFest. Wayne County is committed to offering the best park experiences for families to enjoy. For more information about Wayne County Parks, please call (734) 261-1990 or visit www.parks.waynecounty.com.

###

For additional information, members of the media may contact:

Lisa Gass (DTW) - [email protected] or (734) 247-7379

Whitney Lewis (Wayne County) – [email protected] or (313) 224-7626

WAYNE COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY
 
RANDY WIMBLEY – COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER
MATT MORAWSKI – DIRECTOR, COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
ERICA DONERSON – VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
 
MEDIA LINE: (734) 247-7379