The community is invited to attend an outdoor, family-friendly Arbor Day celebration Friday, April 29 from 9 am to noon at North Water Tower Park, 4700 Rilma Ave. The first 20 attendees will receive a free Florida native sapling. The event will feature a self-guided eco-tour through the beautiful North Water Tower Park woods. Certified arborists will be available to answer questions and discuss a wide range of tree topics, from scientific and common names to their numerous benefits.  A ceremony will start at 10:30 am near the park pavilion and feature the planting of a pignut hickory by City Commissioners, arborists and Parks and Recreation staff. For over 35 years, the City of Sarasota has been honored by the National Arbor Day Foundation with a Tree City USA award for maintaining and expanding the City’s urban forest. Trees provide significant benefits, including intercepting stormwater, purifying the air, preventing erosion, mitigating urban heat island effect, providing wildlife habitats, increasing property values, and reducing stress. For more information about the Arbor Day celebration, contact Kevin Greene, landscape supervisor: 941-263-6117.