Stratford Arbor Day Event To Be Held At High Park

STRATFORD, CT — (From Town Hall): Stratford’s Arbor Day celebration will be held at High Park on Graham Street at 1 p.m. on April 29, Mayor Laura R. Hoydick announced. This year marks the 150th Anniversary of Arbor Day.

The event will feature an Arbor Day Proclamation to be presented by Hoydick, and the planting of six trees that will be installed by the town’s Public Works Department. Four of the trees are maples generously donated by Shannon Landscaping of Stratford, a dedicated local company located at 1111 Honeyspot Road.

Additionally, Stratford was named as a 2021 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management. Stratford achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: forming a new tree board or department, creating a tree-care ordinance, having an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the national Association of State Foresters.

“Tree City USA communities benefit from the positive effects that an urban tree canopy has year after year,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The trees being planted and cared for by Stratford ensure that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program helps cultivate a sense of stewardship and pride for trees the community plants and cares for.”

Hoydick said, “We are pleased to once again celebrate Arbor Day in one of Stratford’s parks, and mark the event with a tree planting, particularly with this year being the 150th Anniversary of Arbor Day. As we approach our Arbor Day celebrations this year, it is a tremendous honor to be recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation for the efforts Stratford has made in responsible urban forestry management, an important factor in maintaining a healthy and green environment.”