Arbor Day has been celebrated for more than 30 years in the city of Shawano, but the celebration this year was just a little more personal for Matt Hendricks, city parks and recreation director.
Trees were planted April 24 at Memorial Park in memory of Mark Dillenburg, who had worked in the city parks for more than 30 years himself before retiring in 2018. Dillenburg died last year. The dilly trees put in the ground in his honor because his nickname was Dilly are evergreens expected to reach anywhere from 49-98 feet in height when fully grown.
Hendricks had to compose himself as he recalled Dillenburg’s dedication to the city’s parks.
“I got to work with Mark for many years, and Mark loved this park, and he loved baseball, and he loved kids,” Hendricks said. “A legacy is something that lives on forever, so his family collected some funds, and in his name and honor, we’re going to plant some trees.”
Hendricks added that Dillenburg’s father lives adjacent to Memorial Park and will be able to see them every day.
Hendricks noted that Memorial is one of the more popular parks in Shawano because of a variety of trees.
“Our baseball and softball tournaments are some of the most popular because of the trees, because the teams like playing in the shade,” Hendricks said.
The Shawano Tree Advisory Committee also gave out its annual Nature’s Friend awards, with the commercial award going to Willow Shores Condominiums, located on Channel Trace Drive.
Carole Foreman, the condos’ spokeswoman, noted the property is next to Woodlawn Cemetery, and maintaining the area takes a lot of effort.
“We’re a small condo community, and it’s wonderful to be recognized for our efforts to promote land and tree conservation,” Foreman said. “We’re fortunate to live in an area of Shawano where we are surrounded by wildlife every day. We have eagles flying overhead. We have deer. We have cranes. We have turkeys. We live in such a beautiful area of Shawano.”
Willow Shores has had a lot of help from city forester Mike Kroenke when it comes to getting advice on what to plant and if problems with trees and plants come up, according to Foreman.
“We could not be more proud of this achievement, and we will continue to focus on making a positive impact on the community that we live in,” Foreman said.
Dan and Pam Nowak received the resident award for Nature’s Friend for their home on North Bartlett Street. The Nowaks opted to take a vacation overseas the week of the celebration, but they sent a letter describing the importance of keeping the community as a place where trees and plants are able to live in harmony with the people who call Shawano home.
Dan Nowak wrote about how there were already pine and birch trees on the property, along with a couple of ash trees and one large maple tree, when they purchased it.
“Over the years, we have continued to build on that foundation,” he wrote. “We have added a variety of perennials including hydrangeas, hostas, day lilies and many others that enhance the diversity of the space. Each year we continue to add more, especially plants that attract pollinators.”
The Arbor Day work receives a lot of support from the city to continue making Shawano green, according to Kroenke. Sixty trees are slated to be planted this year, he said, with about 30 types of trees selected with the help of $46,000 in grant funding from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Kroenke said that Shawano has lost a lot of trees due to elm disease and the emerald ash borer.
Shawano City Clerk Lesley Nemetz reads a proclamation from Mayor Bruce Milavitz about Arbor Day during the city’s ceremony April 24 at Memorial Park. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Carole Foreman, secretary for the Willow Shores Condominiums, explains what the group has done to beautify the area during the Shawano Arbor Day ceremony April 24 at Memorial Park while city forester Mike Kroenke holds up the sign that the condos will receive for being named Nature’s Friend. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
Matt Hendricks, Shawano parks and recreation director, talks to a group of students from Olga Brener Intermediate School and Sacred Heart Catholic School on April 24 about the importance of trees and caring for nature at an Arbor Day ceremony at Memorial Park. (Lee Pulaski | NEW Media)
