The Bismarck Forestry Division will host a community recognition Arbor Day program and ceremonial planting Friday, May 6, 2011, 1:00 PM, at Sertoma Park, Shelter 8, 600 Riverside Park Road, Bismarck. This year the City of Bismarck was selected to host the State Arbor Day celebration due to the Forestry Division's 34 years of Tree City USA, 6 Growth Awards, and the 2010 Community of the Year "Trees Award.”
Each year ceremonial Arbor Day trees are dedicated to local citizens whose efforts have made a significant contribution to Bismarck's urban forest. Leif Peterson, Human Resources Director with the Tesoro Mandan Refinery, will be honored for his 21 years of commitment and leadership of the annual Tesoro Tree Planting project that partners the Refinery with Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Bismarck Parks District and the Bismarck Forestry Division. First grade students will read poems, and there will be educational booths specifically for elementary school children. The Arbor Day theme for 2011 is “Help Our Community Branch Out, Plant a Tree!
The Arbor Day Ceremony will also include Apple Seed Awards that will be presented for 2010 landscape beautification efforts on public property. Partners in Planting, community minded sponsors that have partnered with the City to provide funds for a matching grant to help home owners plant street trees, will also be recognized during the program. The City of Bismarck will receive the 34th consecutive Tree City U.S.A. Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation.
Following the program a tree planting will take place (weather permitting). The public is invited to attend. For more information visit www.bismarck.org/forestry or call 355-1733.