The City of Midland recently marked Arbor Day with a special event, in collaboration with Keep Midland Beautiful (KMB) and Diamondback Energy. The occasion saw the planting of 65 new trees at Garrett-Brown Park. The city highlighted that Diamondback Energy commits to planting 100 trees annually at the city's parks, as part of an ongoing partnership between these three entities.
"We know that city parks are frequented by all of our citizens, and we want these parks to be a place that they enjoy," said Erin Bailey, Corporate affairs representative, according to Facebook.
According to city representatives, Diamondback Energy also undertakes the responsibility of providing irrigation for these newly planted trees.
City officials make a conscious effort to select parks that are in dire need of trees, thus ensuring that the tree-planting initiative has maximum impact.
The Old Farmer's Almanac website provides some historical context for Arbor Day. It states that Julius Sterling Morton was the individual responsible for initiating this day dedicated to tree planting.
Morton emphasized the unique nature of Arbor Day as a holiday. He said it is distinct from other holidays because it "proposes for the future while others repose upon the past." Planting a tree in honor or memory of a loved one is a cherished tradition associated with this holiday.
Bailey's LinkedIn profile reveals her association with Diamondback Energy since May 2023.
Before her current role at Diamondback, Bailey held positions in public relations and media. Her most notable stint was as the public information officer for the City of Midland from April 2019 to November 2021.
Additionally, she served as a reporter for KLST and KSAN News in the San Angelo area.