Come the annual Memorial Day Parade, Center Street should be awash in the beauty and aroma of lilacs, thanks to the efforts of Ironton In Bloom.

On Friday the volunteer beautification organization dedicated six Japanese lilac trees that were planted along Center Street. The trees were planted with assistance from the Ironton-Lawrence County Community Action Organization’s Life Intervention and Diversion Program.

“Our long-term goal is to see Ironton become an arbor city,” Carol Allen told the group assembled at Center Street at noon Friday. “It takes a lot of effort to have that recognition.”

Trees have many advantages to a community and a home, Allen said.

If a shade tree is planted on the west side of a house, in five years it will cut the homeowner’s energy costs by three percent. In 15 years that reduction will go up 12 percent.

“Trees breathe carbon dioxide and that counters the negative effect of vehicles,” she said. “We try to educate on what trees can do. They provide protection and beauty. There is tremendous value to trees.”

On Thursday, IIB teamed up with the now defunct Ironton Port Authority and DuPont/Haverhill/Sun Coke Community Advisory Panel to plant a Japanese maple at the newly created Shane Jones Memorial Park on Eighth Street near the Bellemont Subdivision. The park is being designed as a place for children in the developing neighborhood.