The Great Bend Tree Board is small but mighty. Members Toni Rice, Lisa Whipple and Gary Pinkall, with assistance from city arborist Doug Bert and District 7 Kansas Forester Jami Seirer, are proud of the group’s accomplishments. 

“This will be the 37th year Great Bend has received the Tree City USA designation,” Rice said. “That’s a spectacular accomplishment when you consider we are out here on the prairie with no trees.”

2020 also marks the sixth year the board has received the prestigious Tree City Growth Award, presented to boards that have gone above and beyond the regular requirements to increase their communities awareness of and appreciation for trees. Luckily, they have until January, 2021 to complete this year’s efforts for next year’s round, Rice said. 

Before Governor Kelly issued the executive order that prompted the City of Great Bend to close city parks, playgrounds and sporting centers to help with mitigation efforts, the Great Bend Tree Board had planned to hold its annual celebration of Arbor Day at the Argonne Forest in Veterans Memorial Park. That has been postponed now, likely until the fall, Rice said. 

But, the board has still managed to keep trees in the spotlight this spring with a poetry contest which concluded on Monday, April 20. 

“Arbor day is our biggest holiday, so we already had plans in the making,” Rice said. “We may be the only tree board doing anything for Arbor Day because this contest did not require face-to-face participation.”

Another contest that has become an annual tradition in Great Bend is the fifth-grade poster contest. In late winter, board members invited fifth graders from participating schools to enter the contest, and submissions were picked up prior to schools closing in March. Typically, the winner of the contest is honored at the Arbor Day celebration and helps plant a tree of his or her choosing at the Argonne Forest. A plaque with the winner’s name is also included by the tree. Quintin Bazard, a fifth grader at Eisenhower Elementary School, is the 2020 first-place winner. He will have the opportunity to plant his tree later this year after the park has reopened and gatherings are once again allowed, Pinkall said.

Another way community members can mark Arbor Day this year is by planting a tree in their own yards, Whipple said. She has planted over 600 trees throughout the years, some in a windbreak and others around her home. 

“I love to try different varieties, and compare the speeds they grow, or diagnose insect problems and find solutions,” she said. “I also plant trees to mark particular moments in my life, such as my daughter’s wedding and my mother’s passing. That way, when I sit in my backyard on a summer’s evening, I feel surrounded by memories.”

Over the years, many Great Bend residents have participated in the City of Great Bend’s tree rebate program. The Tree Board created a list of desirable trees, and guidelines for planting. Following these recommendations, residents can receive a 50% rebate on the cost of their tree, up to $75. They can claim up to two trees per year. More details are available at the City of Great Bend website, or in a brochure provided by the Tree Board located at the city offices, Rice said. These resources also provide information about the dead tree removal rebate. 

The Tree Board is open to new members with a passion for community and trees, Rice said. She and Whipple have been members for about the same amount of time. 

Rice was a teacher in Great Bend for 36 years. When she retired, she wanted to do something for the community, she said. She always had a passion for gardening and planting. Charles Waknitz, a former board president, invited her to a meeting and she was eager to become a member. She keeps coming back, year after year, because of the friends she has made on the board.

“We feel like we are contributing to the beauty of our city,” she said. “I also enjoy furthering my knowledge and helping to educate the kids when we visit the schools.” 

For Pinkall, friendship and a sense of purpose inspires his ongoing participation. He became a member a few years ago after he won a photography contest the board held, and was invited to become a member. 

“I get a deep satisfaction from serving,” he said. “I also loves trees. They are a great asset to the city, and they are important to emphasize and encourage people to plant and tend appropriately.”

To be appointed to the tree board, applications are available at the City of Great Bend website. Seats are appointed by the mayor.