Worcester To Plant Trees In Honor Of Coronavirus Deaths, Workers

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester will plant several trees this week at Elm Park to honor essential workers and city residents who died during the coronavirus pandemic.

So far, 418 city residents have died due to COVID-19, and more than 23,000 residents have contracted the virus. Hundreds of local doctors, nurses, firefighters and other essential workers are among them.

The Friday ceremony will also coincide with Arbor Day, and mark the beginning of an effort to plant some 200 new trees across the city this spring.

Friday's 10 a.m. ceremony will include the planting of three trees at the Russell Street side of Elm Park, plus speeches from local officials. This spring's tree plantings are a collaboration between the Worcester public works department, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, the Greater Worcester Land Trust, Mass Audubon, the state Department of Conservation, the USDA and National Grid.