At its May 7 meeting, Golden Valley City Council proclaimed May 9, 2024 as Arbor Day and May as Arbor Month.
Every year on Arbor Day, the Golden Valley Forestry Department meets with students at various elementary schools throughout the City to teach them about the importance of urban forests.
Yesterday, forestry staff went to Good Shepherd Elementary for the annual Arbor Day event.
The day started with a presentation by Al Lundstrom, Park Maintenance Supervisor, about the value of urban forests, followed by awarding prizes to students who participated in the poster contest (students were asked to create posters about the benefits of urban trees), and ended with a tree planting at the school.
The City has celebrated Arbor Day with this tradition for 37 years. Additionally, Golden Valley has received the nationally recognized designation of Tree City USA for the past several years. Tree City USA was developed by the National Arbor Day Foundation, in conjunction with the United States Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, to recognize towns and cities across the country that meet four standards:
- A community tree ordinance
- A legal tree governing body
- A comprehensive urban forestry program supported by a minimum of $2 per capita
- An annual observance of Arbor Day
To learn more about the City’s Urban Forestry Program, visit the Tree Management web page on the City website.