NASCAR Green Clean Air Initiative Donates 35 Trees to Dexter

The Village of Dexter is getting a little "greener" thanks to a donation of 35 trees from the NASCAR Green Clean Air project.

NASCAR and the Michigan International Speedway (MIS) will donate trees purchased from Beaubien Landscape in Adrian to be planted throughout the village to aid the area’s recovery from the .

"With Dexter being so close to the speedway, donating the trees to help with the community's rebuilding efforts just seemed like a natural thing to do," Brad Kuhbander, manager of media relations for MIS said.

NASCAR Green Clean Air is a unique program that plants 10 trees for each Green Flag that drops during races. Dexter was recognized during the Sprint Cup Series Pure Michigan 400 on Aug. 19.

Allison Bishop, community development director, said the location of the trees will be determined once MIS officials settle on the species.

"We're looking at putting some on the west bank of Mill Creek Park and other areas around town where trees were lost in the tornado or died naturally," she said.

Delivery of the trees will occur in the fall, according to Kuhbander.

"It probably won't be until September or October," he said. "We have to plant the trees by the end of the year, but we're going off of the Farmers' Almanac to determine when will be the best time for planting."

Village Trustee Jim Smith was on hand to accept the donation and said he is delighted to see more trees planted around Dexter.

"As a resident of the village and a NASCAR fan, I was very pleased with their plan to donate trees. I know that MIS has done many environmental projects at the track, so it is nice to see them working with communities in the area," Smith said.

Kuhbander said MIS received 90 trees through the Green Clean Air initiative, some of which may be donated to Dexter Township as well.