Grace Conklin Was Honored for Founding the Townships’ Arbor Day Program
Cheltenham Township commemorated its 31st Annual Arbor Day Celebration on Friday, April 26, 2019. The Arbor Day presentation included the presentation of the Tree City USA Award and flag, and a special Proclamation in honor of Grace Brooks Conklin, one of the founders of Cheltenham’s Arbor Day program and music and posters from area second graders.
The event kick-off with Board of Commissioner’s President Daniel B. Norris (Ward 5) reading the Arbor Day Proclamation. Next, Commissioner Irv Brockington (Ward 7) read a special proclamation declaring Friday, April 26, 2019, as Grace Brooks-Conklin Day.
Conklin was a Cheltenham, Township resident, and world traveler and former owner of Grace Conklin Travel Service in Jenkintown, but her true passion was her love of trees, birds and wildlife.
In 1987, Conklin petitioned the Cheltenham Township Board of Commissioners Parks and Recreation Committee, along with the Shade Tree Advisory Commission to start a tree planting program to observe Arbor Day annually in Cheltenham Township.
Conklin took great joy in children’s participation in the Arbor Day celebrations. She wanted kids to see the beauty in trees and understand their importance to the environment. She always attended the annual Arbor Day event just to see and hear the children. Conklin died on June 22, 2018 at 105-years-old.
Conklin’s love of connecting children with trees and nature was honored with songs and poems from Paige Budin and Nicole Young’s second grade classes from Cheltenham Elementary with assistant teacher, Lisa Biscegile; student music teacher, Matt Lauder and Michelle Fella Przbylowski, music teacher and second grade teacher sang songs and read poems in honor of Arbor Day. Aldo Braccia’s second grade class from Myers Elementary presented Arbor Day inspired posters, and shared facts they learned about Arbor Day.
For more information and photos of the event, click here.