The 4th annual tree planting and  2nd annual Timber Trot 5k will be hosted by the Hantz Foundation in Detroit on Saturday, May 6 in honor of Earth Day and unifying the community.

Check in for the 9 a.m. race begins at 8 a.m. Following the race, there is a tree planting.

The start and finish for the race is located at Hutchinson Elementary/Middle School at 2600 Garland Street. All runners and walkers will receive a t-shirt and medal.

Registration is available online at Hantz Foundation.org, with a race fee of $40.Registration ends on Wednesday, May 3.  

In addition to the race and tree planting, other festivities include a DJ, food trucks, ice cream, a magic show and face painting.

The Hantz Foundation is a Non-Profit Organization committed to enhancing the lives of the residents on the Eastside of Detroit through education, health and beautification of the city.

According to Anthony Endress, the Vice President of marketing of the Hantz Group, this year three thousand trees are going to be planted near Detroit schools in order to create safe areas for parents to drop their kids off without fear of them running into potentially dangerous situations.

“Kids need a safe learning environments in order to succeed,” Endress said.

According to Endress if crowds resemble those from last year, about five to six thousand runners in the Timber Trot 5k are expected and almost two-thousand  participants in the tree planting.

“Our end goal is to create a truly liveable neighborhood in this area that has been hit pretty hard by economic decline,” Endress said.

According to Endress groups from metro Detroit schools, families and friends of those involved in the Hantz group, local students and citizens are expected to participate in this year’s tree planting.

“I’m looking forward to planting my tree, so I can come back in five years and see the impact that it’s made,” Endress said.