350 trees planted across Brown County as part of Packers’ First Downs for Trees program

BELLEVUE (WLUK) — The Green Bay Packers continue to celebrate their on-field success with an annual sustainability initiative that helps make our region greener.

On Friday, team officials gathered at Josten Park in Bellevue for a ceremonial tree planting. It represents the 350 trees that were planted in 15 communities throughout Brown County earlier this year as part of the “First Downs for Trees” program.

As the title suggests, the number of trees planted each year corresponds generally with how many first downs the Packers recorded in the previous season.

Participating in this year’s program — which marked the 15th anniversary — was Allouez, Ashwaubenon, Bellevue, Brown County, De Pere, Green Bay, Hobart, Howard, Lawrence, Ledgeview, Oneida, Pulaski, Scott, Suamico and Wrightstown.

“We know that is a real impact that each and every member of our community can enjoy, whether it be in parks or just simply enjoying the environmental benefits that a tree gives to the whole community, so it’s a great way for us to be impactful in that regard,” said the Packers’ Director of Public Affairs Aaron Popkey.

First Downs for Trees is one of the initiatives of the Green Bay Packers’ Green Team. It complements the recycling and landfill diversion programs at Lambeau Field by targeting the carbon emitted by the Packers’ air charters to road games, which is approximately 450 tons in a year.

“It just makes a very tangible improvement each and every year in the community. Hundreds of trees being planted, and it is a fun way for the Packers to benefit the community. Particularly something like this that’s outside and it’s so easy for so many members of the community to realize this benefit through the years. Having these trees planted at parks, other public areas, at schools, throughout the community.”

Symbolically, this tree today speaks to all the benefits it brings with respect to shade and stormwater and environmental air, air cleaning properties that trees have… What one tree does, and collectively what they all do in the community.

Green Bay Packaging, Inc. is the corporate sponsor of First Downs for Trees and provided the funds to support the tree planting. Two nurseries, Meacham Nursery and Leaves Inspired, donated this year’s trees, which are a combination of elm, maple, lilac, oak, honey locust and flowering crab trees.

The program also receives support from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Wisconsin Public Service.

Since the inception of First Downs for Trees in 2011, more than 7,500 trees have been planted. The Packers say this correlates to $35 million in lifetime benefits through stormwater runoff reduction, CO2 reduction, energy savings, air quality improvement and property value increase.

“Over their lifetime, the tree benefits exceed the costs of planting and care, representing a 300% return on investment. Tree benefits increase over time, highlighting the importance of not only planting trees, but of providing ongoing maintenance and protection,” a news release from the Packers states.