Local parks will take on a new look this month as 3800 trees will be planted in honor of Arbor Day.

The tree-planting event is sponsored by NIU’s Student Environmental Action Committee and the Student Associaton Recreation Committee.

“Trees are great for the environment,” said Michael Baltasi, SEAC president. “They are beautiful, they provide shade and they soak up carbon dioxide.”

Baltasi said planting trees provides both environmental benefits and benefits on a personal level.

The Illinois Department of Conservaton donated the trees after SEAC wrote a proposal to receive them, Baltasi said.

SEAC and SARC will plant the first 1500 trees Saturday at 9:30 a.m. in Hopkins Park, Baltasi said.

“We do not want to make this a SEAC event,” Baltasi said. Faculty, students and staff are urged to bring shovels and participate, he said.

The rest of the trees will be planted in other DeKalb parks on Arbor Day, April 29, Baltasi said.

Volunteers will plant four different kinds of trees, including white pine, burr oak, sugar maple and a variety of dogwood. All of the trees are native to the environment, Baltasi said.

Baltasi said this year’s world goal of new trees is one billion and Illinois’ goal is eleven million.