Leesburg, VA (May 5, 2026) – Mayor Kelly Burk, members of the Tree and Parks & Recreation commissions, and Town staff gathered at Ida Lee Park Monday for the planting of the Town’s new Liberty tree. 

The planting of the Mount Vernon Chestnut Oak was in honor of the recent Arbor Day celebration as well as in commemoration of the yearlong America 250 celebration, marking the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

The tree is a one-year-old chestnut oak sapling grown from an acorn collected from one of the oldest trees in the forests surrounding George Washington’s Mount Vernon. The choice of Ida Lee Park as a planting site was apt, as it was once home to several mature white oaks, making the park a meaningful location to continue that landscape legacy, according to Town Urban Forester Melissa Westbrook. The tree was planted alongside the farmhouse next to the festival field, home to the Town’s annual Fourth of July concert and fireworks.

“We recognize this tree as a living link to our nation’s founding. Planted in honor of the 250^th anniversary of America, it stands as a symbol of liberty and self-governance. May it inspire us to remember the courage that shaped our nation and our responsibility to carry those ideals forward,” Burk stated.

More on Leesburg’s 250 celebration can be found at www.leesburgva.gov/leesburg250.

Media Contact: 
Kara Rodriguez, Public Information Officer 
pio@leesburgva.gov Ÿ 703-669-1425