FAIRFIELD — On Arbor Day, city officials will plant the first tree in the planned memorial grove that was the site of severe flooding.

Though the memorial grove won’t be complete, a White Oak — Fairfield’s official tree — will be planted at noon Friday, April 30.

“We felt this was a good way to one, promote Arbor Day and tree awareness, and bring a little more interest in the memorial grove,” said Parks and Events Manager Ben Strickler.

The grove is being developed at Banker and Crystal drives. In June 2003, homes along Pleasant Run Creek flooded. The city applied for a $2.58 million FEMA grant and purchased 21 of 23 homes, most between Banker Drive and the creek.

Due to the grant limitations, there is not much the city can do with the property, Strickler said.

The grove will be a place where people can purchase trees to plant in memory of someone. The city currently does that at Harbin Park.

There can’t be any enclosed structures, poured pathways or parking lots, Strickler said.

Environmental Commission member Veronica Craig said the creek needs room to flood.

“The most important function it will have is to serve as a buffer for the creek. We can’t do a lot to disturb the land,” Craig said. “We knew if we were to do something, it had to be a different idea and different approach.”

The city is installing a pathway using recycled plastic which will permeate the ground to help absorb water, she said.

The pathway will be finished in about a month, but the grove won’t be finished until next year, Strickler said.

“There will be other amenities we’ll add through the capital improvement plan next year,” he said. “We’ll have an open-air type of structure, as well as some benches and things like that around the park to help enhance it.”

The city has “Tree City USA” status, which it received again last week for 2009. It’s the 15th consecutive year the city has garnered that distinction.

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