New Bern is commemorating Arbor Day at 11 a.m. Friday with a ceremonial tree planting at Martin Marietta Park, at 700 S. Glenburnie Road.
New Bern Parks and Recreation is hosting the event being held at no charge for the public that will include remarks from special guests and refreshments. Attendees are encouraged to commemorate the event by taking home free flowering cherry tree seed packets, while supplies last, to plant, nurture and grow at home.
Sponsor Spotlight
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. North Carolina Arbor day is the first Friday after March 15, according to the Arbor Day Foundation.
“If ever there was a time for trees, now is that time,” Parks and Recreation Director Kari Warren said. “Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being, energy use, and extreme heat and flooding. New Bern is doing its part to address these challenges by focusing on our environment, encouraging the planting of trees, preserving soils, and supporting local wildlife.”
2023 marks the 28th New Bern has been awarded the Tree City USA designation. The city is one of 74 cities and towns in the state and one of over 3,600 in the nation to receive the recognition.
To receive this recognition, the city must have a tree board or city department responsible for caring for and managing the community’s trees, a public tree ordinance that establishes policies for managing street and park trees, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and an annual Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation to celebrate trees and the many benefits they provide.
