City Adds to Mayors’ Grove, Named Tree City USA
In recognition of Arbor Day, the City of Pierre will add a tree to Mayors’ Grove. Mayors’ Grove, located in Hipple Park just west of the Discovery Center, is home to a tree for each of the people who have been elected as Mayor of Pierre.
“Mayor Harding hadn’t yet had a tree planted for him,” said Tom Farnsworth, Parks and Recreation Director. “We thought it appropriate to roll the ceremonial planting into the Arbor Day activities.”
Mayor Steve Harding has selected a seedless cottonwood for the Grove. With help from the City’s Arbor Board, Mayor Harding will plant the new cottonwood at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24.
“Many of our massive and stately cottonwoods along the waterfront were damaged during the 2011 flood,” said Mayor Harding. “I’m using this planting as an opportunity to replace a cottonwood in our park system.”
During the tree planting ceremony, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture will recertify the City of Pierre as a Tree City USA. This marks the 36th year Pierre has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. To be recognized as a Tree City USA, a community has to demonstrate sound urban forestry practices that include having an Arbor Board and tree-maintenance ordinances.
In addition to the tree planting event, Dr. John Ball from South Dakota State University will provide a public tree care seminar focusing on Emerald Ash Borer mitigation. Art Smith, City Arbor Board Chairman, will also report out on the City’s Emerald Ash Borer management plan. The seminar is scheduled for Monday, April 22, at 7 p.m. The seminar will be held at the SDSU Regional Extension Center located at 412 W. Missouri Avenue.
Both the tree planting ceremony and the Emerald Ash Borer seminar are free and open to the public.
The City’s Arbor Board is a volunteer group appointed by the Mayor to advise on and lead tree care efforts in the City of Pierre. Current members are Tony Dorschner, Will Hanson, Rollie Isaacson, Adam Kulesa, Rachel Ormseth, Art Smith, and Mark Smith
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