Northern Indiana Public Service Co., represented at the event by John Stout, a NIPSCO forester, donated the trees that already were prepared for the volunteers to simply surround them with warm soil Friday afternoon.
“Could we have had a better day for this?” Listenberger asked the assembled crowd that included Plymouth Mayor Mark Senter. Listenberger thanked the volunteers,  and acknowledged the assistance received from Jim Marquardt, Plymouth Street Department superintendent, and Mike Hite, Plymouth Park Department superintendent. Listenberger noted that some of the trees will be planted in medians along North Michigan Street.
“Part of the  program is planting the right tree at the right spot,” Listenberger explained, adding that Price’s Nursery staff was instrumental in guiding that portion of the program.
Stout told the volunteers that NIPSCO is one of 147 utilities nationwide, and one of only four in Indiana, that has received the designation of a Tree Line USA Utility, and only one of two utilities that have maintained that status since the program began 16 years ago. To meet the certification, he explained, NIPSCO must have in place a tree replacement program, follow strict regulations concerning trimming, and used certified contractors such as Arbormetics, whose representatives also were introduced.
Listenberger, before breaking the volunteers into groups for the actual planting, explained that the first Arbor Day was 135 years ago, celebrated by Sterling Morton in Nebraska. He added, “I would like to thank everyone for participating … Your efforts today will benefit others for decades and will make Plymouth a little bit better and a little bit healthier place to live …”