Arbor Day Foundation Recognizes Royal Oak Again

Royal Oak will observe Arbor Day on Friday again as a Tree City USA community.

“This is our 34^th year, so it is obviously something Royal Oak is dedicated to,” said Department of Public Services Director Greg Rassel.

Rassel said the distinction also recognizes Royal Oak’s commitment to the value trees have on the environment and the community. “It recognizes Royal Oak’s support for the urban forest,” he said.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, Royal Oak met four standards to remain a Tree City USA community. Those are: possessing a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

The city changed its Arbor Day Celebration event scheduled for Thursday morning because of wet, windy weather. Instead of the tree planting ceremony at Worden Park, seedlings were distributed to students at Oak Ridge Elementary School.

The Arbor Day Foundation sponsors the Tree City USA program in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.

The Foundation is a nonprofit, environmental and education organization of more than one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.