Clark County to Plant Heritage Tree as Part of America 250-Ohio Commemoration

Springfield, OH (September 17, 2026) — A ceremonial tree planting will take root in Springfield as part of the Heritage Trees: Planting History program under America 250-Ohio, the official state commission responsible for spearheading Ohio’s celebrations and commemorations around America’s semiquincentennial in 2026.

The Heritage Trees program officially kicked off in Lima, on Arbor Day 2025 (April 25, 2025), and will ensure the planting of a commemorative tree in communities across the state.

Started in 2025 and continuing throughout 2026, Heritage Trees will be planted in all 88 of Ohio’s counties. In Clark County, the tree will be planted at the historic Springfield Burying Ground at 120 W. Columbia Street on Friday, September 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM.

The Springfield Burying Ground is the final resting place of the city’s earliest residents, including settlers from the eastern states, former slaves who had escaped bondage in the South, and even a member of the Boston Tea Party. It served as the city’s principal burial ground until Greenmount Cemetery opened in 1845. Springfield is the county seat, and the city celebrates its 225th anniversary in 2026 and has been a Tree City USA community for 50 years. Given its central role in the history of the county, the cemetery is a fitting site for this year’s county tree planting, a living link between the county’s past and its future.

The Heritage Trees initiative draws inspiration from the historic Liberty Tree in Boston during the Revolutionary War period. The Heritage Trees program aims to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary by planting native-to-Ohio white oak trees across the state. Throughout the celebration, America 250-Ohio will offer each Ohio county a white oak tree in honor of America’s 250th birthday. Sites selected in each county could be a city that acts as the county seat or participates in the Tree City USA program.

White oak trees were chosen as Heritage Trees because they grow in many soil types, resist most tree diseases and are native to Ohio. A specific white oak species will be chosen based on the county climate and purchased from a reputable Ohio tree nursery.

The Heritage Trees program is made possible by Presenting Sponsor Cenovus Energy and Supporting Sponsors Ohio Liquor and The Lubrizol Foundation. The program was created in partnership with Dawes Arboretum, Cox Arboretum MetroPark, Holden Forests & Gardens, Keep Ohio Beautiful, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Rowe Arboretum, and Secrest Arboretum.

About America 250-Ohio

In 2026, the United States will celebrate its semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of theDeclaration of Independence. Each state has been encouraged to create a celebration and commemoration that reflects its unique character and contributions to the nation over the past 250 years. The Ohio Commission for the Semiquincentennial (also known as the America 250-Ohio Commission or AM250-OH) was created by the Ohio legislature and launched on March 1, 2022. Its charge is to plan, encourage, develop and coordinate the commemoration of the nation’s 250th anniversary and the impact of Ohioans on the nation’s past, present and future. More information is available at America250-Ohio.org.

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