Community volunteers are invited to help plant 20 trees Saturday morning around the perimeter of the former Churchill Junior High School fields on Maple Avenue, part of what city officials say will likely be Galesburg’s final large-scale tree planting of the spring season.

The planting is scheduled for 8 a.m. Saturday in the 1000 block of Maple Avenue at the former Churchill School property, which is owned by the City of Galesburg.

A city rendering above shows proposed tree placement around the perimeter of the former Churchill field.

According to the city, the trees are being planted around the outer edge of the large open field and are not expected to interfere with existing soccer, baseball, football and recreational use of the property.

Tree varieties scheduled for planting include London planetrees, shingle oaks, red oaks, Crimson Sunset maples, yellowwoods, bald cypress, tulip trees and Wildfire black gum trees.

City Special Projects Coordinator Tom Simkins said the project is expected to make an immediate visual impact on the greenspace while expanding long-term tree coverage in the area.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring shovels, spades and rakes. Participants may also bring refreshments and additional helpers.

The city has organized several community tree plantings this spring as part of broader efforts to improve public spaces and expand Galesburg’s urban tree canopy.