MOUNT VERNON — The Knox County Commissioners will be joining in a count and identification of trees in Mount Vernon’s parks and public areas.

Patricia Barnes of the Knox County Master Gardener Volunteers said the inventory idea follows in the footsteps of a project first performed by volunteers in Greene County. The project aims to give a better idea of what Mount Vernon’s parks will be up against when the slowly spreading emerald ash borer parasite reaches Knox County, as well as identifying any old trees which might be in danger of falling in wind, ice or thunderstorms.

Barnes said there are about 700 trees in Mount Vernon’s public areas, which include traffic islands as well as parks. Project organizers plan to assemble nine teams of four to five members each, giving each team approximately 80 trees to track. The teams will identify trees with the help of guidebooks and sample leaves provided by the organizers, measure the girth of trees, and note the tree’s precise location with the help of GPS satellite technology.

The commissioners were asked to participate in order to publicize the activity, which will be taking place from mid-May through July, at a schedule convenient to each group. At least one member from each group will have to attend a training/guidance session on Saturday, May 8, from 8 to 11 a.m. Each team will get a kit with information, inventory guidelines and necessary equipment.