Trees are an important part of every community.

Since the beginning, trees have furnished us with two of life’s essentials, food and oxygen. Streets, parks, playgrounds and backyards are lined with trees that create a peaceful, aesthetically pleasing environment. Trees increase quality of life by bringing natural elements and wildlife habitats into urban settings.

Dan Stone, city arborist, was at Nordstrom Park Tuesday morning teaching summer playground program children how important trees are for the community. There are more than 13,000 street trees in the city. Each year, the city’s Parks Department plants around 300 trees.

On Tuesday, Stone brought a red oak tree for the children to plant at Nordstrom Park. He told the children that the red oak tree will live for around 200 years.

”The reason I picked a red oak is that it’s my favorite,” Stone said. ” I love planting big trees.”

Stone said Nordstrom Park has changed through the years. He said more than 40 years ago it used to be a junk yard. He added that when city officials were installing a swing set at the park 15 years ago, a hood from a vehicle was found while using a backhoe to dig dirt.

”You can see how far we’ve come,” Stone said about the picturesque park that is located along Livingston Avenue.

Nordstrom Park is one of five playground program locations. The others include Allen Park, Fletcher Elementary School, Lillian Dickson Tot Lot and Ring Elementary School. The playground program is free of charge. This year’s program will run through Friday, Aug. 5, and will include a free lunch at each site provided by the Jamestown YMCA in conjunction with St. Susan Center. The meals will be available to children ages 18 and under. Participating children will need to register each day in order to receive a lunch the following day. At the individual parks, there will be arts and crafts, and games such as mancala, kickball, box hockey and wiffle ball. Equipment will be available at each playground site for the children to play with at any time.

The summer playground program is made possible through support from the city of Jamestown, the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, Jamestown Public Schools and state Office of Children and Family Services. Linda Swanson, Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation executive director, was at Nordstrom Park for the tree planting.

”Without people like Linda, we wouldn’t be able to have a programs like the summer playground program,” said Stone in regard to Sheldon Foundation’s $5,000 donation.

Stone said Jamestown has been designated as a Tree City USA for 35 consecutive years by the National Arbor Day Foundation. He said only one other city in the state, Poughkeepsie, has a longer streak by only one year. To make a tax-deductible donations toward the city’s urban forestry fund, send a check to the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, 418 Spring St., Jamestown, NY 14701. For more information, visit crcfonline.org or jamestownny.net.