What do you do when you're a city official and you are asked to approve 20 white ash on a site plan? How can you show the great variety of trees that will do well in our climate? How can you draw a picture of what shape a mature tree might be and whether it is suitable in an open space or a spot near a building or wire?

If you're John Sherman assistant director and arborist with the city's Parks and Recreation Department, you think about how you might share your knowledge and enthusiasm about trees with the Saco residents, and then you plant trees. John is completing the planting of 20 trees - all different species - at the Community Center, 85 Franklin Street. The idea is to give individuals wishing to select a memorial tree or a developer interested in choosing street trees for a new development an opportunity to visit the grounds at 85 Franklin Street to see 20 different varieties of trees, John says.

The New England Park Association thinks the idea is good enough to award the city a $1000 competitive grant to support it.

Planning and Development Director Peter Morelli thinks that the mini-arboretum will be very useful to the Planning Department. "Bob and I often talk with people who would like to plant something beautiful but just don't know what to do. This will help us help them."

You can download the planting plan and species list.