NIU and the city council are holding an Arbor Day tree planting event to spruce up neighborhood parks.

As part of a new NIU program, students and DeKalb residents can plant saplings in DeKalb April 27, said Ashley Sweda, Office of Campus Recreation outdoor coordinator.

Those also wishing to take a sapling home can take as many as they plant, Sweda said.

The DeKalb city council approved $500 Monday to help NIU plant 6,200 trees. The original request to the council was $600, but city staff only recommended to approve $500.

The original request included a $100 student coordinator fee. City staff recommended NIU pay this fee from their own budget.

Sweda said the project is needed because inadequate rainfall for the last couple of years will cause many trees to die in the next five years. The new trees will help to compensate for the expected loss.

The 6,200 trees come from a grant Sweda applied for this year.

“I’m applying for a grant for 20,000 trees for next year,” he said.

“We’re trying to reforest the community,” he said. “The key of the project is to get the trees in the ground.”

Sweda said he has a strong background in forestry, so he will be able to supervise the tree planting.

The university and the community are involved in a “comm-university project,” he said. “Students and members of the community should be involved.”

Also, “because of the tree planting project, a student will be able to get three credit hours toward an internship,” he said.

The planting will take place at Hopkins Park, Hubert Park and Buena Vista Golf Course.

Sweda said he still needs people to help with the tree planting. Anyone interested can contact Sweda at the OCR.

Sweda said the project will be a yearly project.

The cost of the trees comes out to eight cents a tree with the council’s $500 donation.