CLINTON — The Clinton city arboretum will be named in honor of Carol McFeeters Thompson on April 27 during the annual observance of Arbor Day.
The ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the arboretum site in the 1000 block of East Jefferson Street. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at Douglas Elementary School, 905 East Main Street.
A proclamation to honor Thompson, a naturalist who volunteered at Weldon Springs State Park for 13 years before she was hired by the state as the park’s first interpreter, was approved in February by the Clinton City Council. The Clinton Tree Commission recommended the proclamation for Thompson, who served on the Tree Commission.
In comments on the decision to honor Thompson, Tree Commission Chairman John Baker cited Thompson’s love of nature and her dedication to teaching.
“Carol’s enthusiasm for the outdoors was contagious. She was responsible for educating local students and people of all ages about the wonders of nature. As a member of the Tree Commission, Carol worked tirelessly on many projects. We are proud to honor Carol’s memory by naming the arboretum after her,” said Baker.
Before her death in 2015 at age 59, Carol served 18 years as park interpreter. She was part of the volunteer effort to locate the one-room Union Schoolhouse to the park and compile the professionally curated exhibits at the Texas Township Hall nature center.
The Arbor Day ceremony will also include the planting of a swamp oak tree donated by the DeWitt Clinton Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. The Clinton Boy and Girl Scouts will attend to conduct a flag raising ceremony.
The annual Arbor Day celebration is sponsored by the Tree Commission to encourage the planting of trees to improve our environment and add to the urban forest fostered by the city and the Tree Commission.
