Annual Christmas Tree Disposal at Smithville Lake

After giving your Christmas tree a home for the holidays, let it be a home for fish and wildlife at Smithville Lake.

Clay County Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites is having its annual Christmas Tree Drop at Little Platte Park. The tree drop began on December 26 and will end on January 31. People can drop off trees at Shelter 1 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm each day.

There is no fee to drop off a tree. Every year after Christmas, Clay County Parks collects used Christmas trees to make habitats. In the spring, the old trees are distributed to designated areas around the park, serving as mulch or habitats for fish and other small wildlife.

Little Platte Park is on the west side of the lake and can be accessed by following US 169 north to NE 180th; then east into Little Platte Park. Trees must be real and free of ornaments, tinsel, tree bags and other artificial items. For more information call 816-407-3400.

KPGZ News - Brian Watts contributed to this story