VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Valley City Parks and Recreation celebrated Arbor Day 2025 on Friday, April 25th with a tree planting event at Chautauqua Park. With support from the Image and Beautification Committee and guidance from City Forester Bob Anderson, VCPR staff will be planting 15 new trees across Chautauqua Park and Hi-Line Fields to honor the spirit of Arbor Day and enhance our community’s green spaces.
Thanks to the Community Family Forest grant from the North Dakota Forest Service, the project included a diverse mix of hardy, region-appropriate trees: Espresso Kentucky Coffee Tree, Redmond Linden, Robusta Poplar, Valley Forge Elm, and Northern Acclaim Honeylocust. These trees were selected to restore and diversify the local canopy, especially in areas where disease or aging trees have impacted the landscape.
“We try to continue being proactive in planting trees to ensure our parks remain both beautiful and functional,” said Tyler Jacobson, Valley City Parks and Recreation Executive Director. “We’re fortunate to have the expertise of City Forester Bob Anderson and strong community support from groups like the Image and Beautification Committee, which allows us to effectively enhance and care for our parks together.”
Arbor Day is a time to celebrate the importance of trees and the role they play in creating healthy, vibrant communities. First observed in 1872, the holiday encourages individuals and groups to plant and care for trees in their local areas. Today, Arbor Day is recognized in all 50 states and around the world as a reminder to invest in trees and green infrastructure that benefit people, wildlife, and the planet. Planting trees brings countless benefits to our communities. Shade trees can help lower summer electric bills by naturally cooling our homes, while trees also remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping fight climate change. They act as windbreaks, protecting property and reducing soil erosion, and they add beauty to our homes, parks, and towns.
Valley City Parks and Recreation invites community members who are interested in donating a tree to beautify public property or park spaces to contact Tyler Jacobson at (701) 845-3294 or Sharon Buhr at (701) 840-0973.
Photo caption: VCPR celebrated Arbor Day alongside the Image and Beautification Committee and city forester, Bob Anderson, by planting trees in Chautauqua Park.
