Honoring the Arbor Day Tradition
Tree City USA communities across the country are celebrating the tree planter’s holiday.
As far as holidays go, Arbor Day is as inspiring as it gets. An entire day dedicated to planting and celebrating trees all over the U.S. and around the globe. It’s a time to take care of our natural world and also a reminder of all the amazing things trees do for us.
This spring, 16 communities across the U.S. are preparing to celebrate their 50th consecutive Arbor Day as a recognized Tree City.
- Auburn, Nebraska
- Paramus, New Jersey
- Clay Center, Kansas
- Parsippany-Troy Hills Township, New Jersey
- Dodge City, Kansas
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Grand Forks, North Dakota
- Salem, Oregon
- Junction City, Kansas
- Springfield, Ohio
- Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania
- Urbana, Illinois
- Mandan, North Dakota
- Westerville, Ohio
- Newton, Kansas
- Wooster, Ohio
That’s five decades of stepping up for trees and the important role they play in our daily lives. And because their commitment to trees continues throughout the entire year, these cities and towns have been recognized as Tree City USA communities since the program began.
THESE CITIES ARE SERIOUS ABOUT CELEBRATING TREES
In Mandan, North Dakota, the surrounding prairie landscape doesn’t have much for natural tree canopy, so every tree planted feels special to residents. Each Arbor Day, an elementary school is chosen as the site for the annual tree planting. Those students get to help plant the tree and have the opportunity to learn about why trees are important.
Springfield, Ohio, residents see their annual Arbor Day celebration as a core part of their community. City officials and schoolchildren gather to plant a ceremonial tree each year, and the students share songs, drawings, and poems to make the day even more special. And one year, the newly planted tree took on a deeper meaning, serving as a memorial for a 9-year-old girl who had recently passed away.
This year’s annual celebration in Salem, Oregon, is a big deal for the community. The city’s mayor, Chris Hoy, shared his thoughts on the occasion: “The annual Arbor Day and Arbor Month celebrations in Salem symbolize our profound connection to the forests and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. These events bring our community together to plant trees, celebrate our urban canopy, and reaffirm our commitment to preserving green spaces.”
A GROWING MOVEMENT
Whether it’s the first year of celebrating or the 50th, every community can make the most of the tree planter’s holiday. The more cities and towns making the commitment to their community forests, the more good that will grow for everyone.
