AKRON, Ohio — It's a Christmas tree cemetery at Summit Metro Parks.
- Since the 70s, Summit Metro Parks in Northeast Ohio have repurposed disposed Christmas trees to beautify all 16 of its parks
- On average, more than 2,000 trees are collected every year
- The park sends the trees through a wood chipper to create mulch, which is used for park trails and landscaping projects
These once highly sought-after pine trees have been kicked to the curb just days after Christmas.
"We ask them to remove all the decorations, lights, tinsel, anything like that," said Stephanie Walton, chief of marketing communications, Summit Metro Parks, Akron.
But one man's trash is another man's treasure.
"They send them through a wood chipper and it creates mulch," said Walton.
Since the 70s, Summit Metro Parks have been repurposing disposed Christmas trees to beautify all 16 of its parks.
On average, more than 2,000 trees are collected every year — spreading Christmas joy all year long.
"It's kind of a win-win, it gives people a place to take their tree when they're done with it and then we are able to mulch those trees and use them at our trail heads and for landscaping projects throughout the park district," said Walton.
Just look for the green signs at 6 of the park locations.
You have until January 31 to give back.
After all, it's the true meaning of Christmas.
And the gift that keeps on giving.
"It allows the tree to be used in a way that's beneficial to everybody in Summit County," said Walton.
