California Clean Air Day

For the third consecutive year, the Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) Foundation is participating in California Clean Air Day, an annual statewide initiative to recognize the importance of clean air in our communities. California Clean Air Day engages Californians in collective action to reduce air pollution, protect public health and connect with their communities. This year, the Foundation has partnered with Davey Resource Group and SDG&E to present an educational discussion about native trees and distributed native trees and shrubs at the event. The Foundation is tabling at the park on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 to educate the public about the annual program and gather Clean Air Pledges from park users.

In 2020, the Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation received a microgrant from the Coalition for Clean Air to produce a video about some of the native trees of MTRP and another about how to properly plant trees. The videos’ host is MTRP Ranger Heidi Gutknecht, who shares characteristics about the trees, which can be grown at home, and demonstrate how trees should be planted and maintained. And, of course, Ranger Heidi discusses how crucially important trees are in improving air quality.

Watch Native Trees of Mission Trails Regional Park

Native Trees of Mission Trails Regional Park

Watch Planting a Tree with Ranger Heidi

Planting a Tree with Ranger Heidi

After watching the videos and exploring the below resources, our hope is that you will be inspired to plant trees, whether native, ornamental, or fruit trees. Many thanks to the Coalition for Clean Air and SDG&E for underwriting the production of the videos, which were produced by the MTRP Foundation with camera and editing by Darren Kawasaki.

You can participate in California Clean Air Day by taking the Clean Air Pledge! There’s a pledge for both children and adults, so even the little ones can help take steps to clean our air.

Clean Air Pledge for Adults Clean Air Pledge for Teens Clean Air Pledge for Elementary Students Clean Air Pledge for Middle Schoolers


Resources

Articles and Reports

Trees, Tree Selection and Nurseries

Tree Groups and Additional Resources