The Quercus rubra (red oak tree) donated by the Conway School. Sign by CJ Lammers.

A cheerful group gathered at Springside Park in Pittsfield, MA on the sunny morning of April 28th to celebrate spring, trees, and a collaboration that spans decades. Surrounded by daffodils, city representatives joined Conway staff, alums, and trustees along with members of the local community for the city’s annual Arbor Day celebration. Conway alum and Pittsfield’s Parks, Open Space & Natural Resource Manager Jim McGrath ’98 opened the ceremony, which included an Arbor Day Proclamation by City Council President Peter Marchetti, a keynote speech on the evergreen legacy of trees by landscape architect Martha Lyon, and remarks from Conway School Executive Director Bruce Stedman ’78. The Conway School has partnered on multiple projects with Berkshire County communities, including Pittsfield, Monterey, Stockbridge, Tyringham, Lenox, Adams, and Great Barrington.

The Arbor Day speakers were followed by the planting of a young oak tree, gifted by the Conway School. Attendees were then invited to join a tour of the Chestnut Seed Orchard hosted by Brian Clark of the American Chestnut Foundation. See a gallery of photos from the event below, or watch footage of the activities courtesy of Pittsfield Community Television. Special thanks to Jim McGrath and Chuck Schnell ’01 for organizing the event.