CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Volunteers in brightly colored fluorescent yellow safety vests “chipped in” to spread hundreds of yards of decorative cocoa brown bark and recycled wood chips along a portion of 7000 Auburn Blvd. in the landscaped area in front of Costco and Walmart on Saturday, Oct. 12.

The city’s annual volunteer event started at 8:30 a.m. and concluded at 12:30 p.m. The event officially celebrates the city’s designation as Tree City USA and proclaims Arbor Day.

Midway through the morning, volunteers paused to watch Mayor Dr. Jayna Karpinski-Costa and Armando Velasquez, the assistant city maintenance inspector, help plant the first of two trees honoring the Arbor Day holiday.

In all, hundreds of volunteers from local businesses, churches and the Boys and Girl Scouts helped to distribute and spread 150 yards of decorative cocoa brown bark and 100 yards of recycled wood chips from city trees in the frontage area.

Last October, volunteers spent their Saturday morning busily helping to revitalize and place wood bark along a substantial portion of Fountain Square Drive near the Citrus Heights City Hall.

Truckloads of bark and wood arrived at the event site along 7000 Auburn Boulevard between the entrances to the Costco and Walmart stores shopping plaza just 48 hours before, Velasquez said.

“I’m so proud of all the volunteers who turn out to help each year,” he said, watching as wheelbarrows of bark were shoveled full and then dumped where they needed to be placed. Volunteers, rakes in hand, quickly got to work, spreading it out before moving on to the next needed location.

Soon, much of the landscaping along the frontage shoulder of Auburn Road from the Stock Ranch marquee sign heading toward Sylvan Middle School looked fully refreshed and the flowers nestled in them looked bright and cheerful to the pedestrians and motorists passing by.

“I bet you didn’t know the city of Citrus Heights has its own officially named tree bark,” said Velasquez, who has overseen the annual fall volunteer event for the past 13 years.

“Our local supplier who works with us, sells that popular variety of tree bark, known as Citrus Heights Coconut Brown to the public under that Citrus Heights brand name,” he said.

Members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Heights Church, Advent Lutheran Church, Sayonara Community Center and local Boy Scout and Girl Scout trips also participated in the city’s Fall Chip-In Day.

“We pick a different location every year throughout the city,” Velasquez said. “All of the materials were provided by our sponsors. And there are no city funds involved.”

Velasquez recognized all the participating volunteers and event sponsors who have continued to help make the annual fall volunteer event such a success, each and every year.

Local business sponsors this year included Arrow Construction, Bear Electric, Biondi Paving, California Landscape, Citrus Heights Water Board of Directors, Citrus Heights Car Wash, Citrus Heights Mower Shop, Coastline Water Resources, J & A Steam Cleaning, Linmoore Fencing, MCE, NorCal Bark, Republic Services and West Coast Arborist.

Volunteers were also treated to a continental breakfast when they signed in and later enjoyed a hot pizza lunch when their work was done. The city’s Beautification Crew truck and its Block Party rental trailer were also on display.

Many also took their chances on a wide range of raffle prizes, including gift cards which were donated by the participating sponsors.