A ceremonial tree planting at Amelia Cornelius Culture Park on the Oneida Reservation, as part of the Green Bay Packers' First Downs for Trees initiative, Aug. 20, 2024. PC: Fox 11 Online
ONEIDA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Communities across Brown County are getting greener, thanks to the Green Bay Packers’ tree-planting program.
“First Downs for Trees” is an annual initiative that donates one tree for each first down the Packers made during the previous season. 402 trees were donated this year, bringing the total number to 7,194 since the program’s inception in 2010.
Officials say the planted trees will provide $34 million in total lifetime benefits through storm water runoff reduction, carbon dioxide reduction, energy saving, air quality improvement and property value increase.
On Tuesday, the Packers marked another successful year of First Downs for Trees with a ceremonial tree planting at Amelia Cornelius Culture Park on the Oneida Reservation, near the Brown County Dog Park.
Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy explained why this initiative is so meaningful to the organization.
“It’s important because we want to much sure that we’re able to continue to have beautiful trees and parks like this, and it’s something that the Packers, as a community-owned team, community is really important to us,” Murphy said. “We’re here for the long haul and we want to make sure that the community continues to thrive and do well, and environmental sustainability is really an important part of that.”
Murphy said First Downs for Trees is a key piece of the Packers’ Green Team, which focuses on using renewable resources and other sustainable practices on game days and every day at Lambeau Field.
“The Packers started our Green Team probably 10 or 15 years ago, and this is an important compound of it. Really being environmentally sustainable and responsible, and we’ve been really pleased with the partnerships that we’ve put together over the years,” Murphy said. “I think the long-term benefits of this will be significant.”
It doesn’t seem like much when we plant each tree, but it’s really impressive.
Murphy added the program helps offset the team’s carbon footprint from traveling to road games.
Representatives from Green Bay Packaging, the Wisconsin DNR and the Oneida Nation also spoke at Tuesday’s event.
16 Brown County communities received trees this year: Allouez, Ashwaubenon, Bellevue, Brown County, De Pere, Green Bay, Hobart, Howard, Lawrence, Ledgeview, Morrison, Oneida, Pulaski, Scott, Suamico and Wrightstown.
Green Bay Packaging, Inc. provided the funds to plant the trees, which came from Meacham Nursery and Leaves Inspired. A combination of elm, maple, lilac, oak, honey locust and flowering crab trees are among the species that were planted.
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