Rochester Hills celebrates Arbor Day, 33 years as Tree City USA community

Rochester Hills, MI - Celebrate Arbor Day with Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan K. Barnett and
City staff at the annual Tree Planting Ceremony at 4 p.m. on Friday, April 28, at the Rochester
Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm.

The City will be planting a Black Walnut tree at the Museum, helping to recreate the historic
landscape on the park grounds. The tree is symbolic in many ways, celebrating the 200th
anniversary of Stoney Creek Village as well as the City’s 33rd consecutive year as a Tree City
USA community. This is also the 8th year receiving a Growth Award for going above and beyond.

“It’s an honor to be celebrating 33 years as a Tree City USA community,” said Mayor Bryan K.
Barnett. “As the first and only community in Michigan to provide free trees for residents to plant in their private yards through the Arbor Day Foundation, we understand the valuable role our tree canopy plays in our community and are excited to see it continue to grow.”

Following the planting of the tree by an area Boy Scout Troop, visitors will enjoy light
refreshments and explore the Museum grounds, buildings, and displays. Everyone who attends
will also receive free tree seedlings.

During the week leading up to Arbor Day, City team members will provide seedlings to
local elementary schools to help promote the importance of trees and add to our
community canopy. As one of over 3,000 communities across the country recognized as a Tree City USA, the City of Rochester Hills is proud to celebrate its years of dedication to tree planting, conservation, and environmental stewardship.

The City promotes planting through multiple annual free tree planting programs including
the Arbor Day’s Community Canopy Program. Info on this program can be found at
arborday.org/rochesterhills.

Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm is located at 1005 Van Hoosen Road. The
Museum is open for public drop-in hours on Fridays and Saturdays from noon-3 p.m. A guided
tour of the Van Hoosen Farmhouse takes place at 1 p.m. For more information about the
Museum, visit rochesterhills.org/museum.

-- City of Rochester Hills Staff

About the City of Rochester Hills
Established in 1984, the City of Rochester Hills is a prosperous community offering
residents and businesses superior services. Voted one of the top places to live by
several sources including CNN Money magazine, Rochester Hills is committed to
sustaining its position among the nation’s preeminent places to live, work and raise a
family. Through the city’s focus on health, education, and technology, the community
continues to attract forward-thinking leaders and businesses.

About the Arbor Day Foundation
Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit
membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million
members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, more than 300 million Arbor Day
Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests
throughout the world. Our vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution
to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate
change, deforestation, poverty and hunger. As one of the world’s largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.