Arbor Day

Arbor Day is celebrated on the fourth Friday of April each year with an Arbor Day tree planting by the City of Canandaigua. Those in attendance can learn about how city trees are planted, hear a proclamation read by the Mayor, and receive posters and other items from the Tree City USA Arbor Day Foundation.

Mayor Polimeni reading the 2012 Arbor Day proclamation at Sonnenberg Park

Arbor Day 2018

Melissa feeding a birdThis year's Arbor Day tree was planted in honor of Melissa Virag. Melissa was a member of the Canandaigua City Tree Advisory Board and president of the Canandaigua Botanical Society. Melissa fought a courageous battle against cancer ending in December 2017. A Katsura tree was planted at Lake Front Park along Canandaigua Lake. Melissa's mother, Janine, was present to say a few words after Mayor Polimeni read the Arbor Day Proclamation. Several residents of Canandaigua and students from Saint Mary's school helped the Canandaigua Parks and Recreation Department.




Arbor Day 2017

Arborist Crim shares best planting practicesWe celebrated 25 years as a Tree City USA with the planting of a Quercus bicolor (Swamp White Oak) at Gibson Street Park. Miss Kincaid's class joined us from Saint Mary's School.









Arbor Day 2016

Mayor Polimeni reads the National Arbor Day ProclamationThe Tree City USA Arbor Day tree planting occurred at Lakefront Park at the north end of Canandaigua Lake on Friday, April 22, 2016. A Dawn Redwood was planted as the first of 20 trees to replace many of the willows that fell in 2015. The Dawn Redwood is a rapid growing deciduous conifer.







Arbor Day 2015

Volunteers planting Sweet Gum tree with gator bagThe 2015 National Arbor Day Tree City USA tree planting was held at Calman Place on Friday, April 24, 2015 at 1 pm. Mayor Polimeni read the Tree City USA National Arbor Day Proclamation and a Liquidambar Styraciflua (Sweet Gum) tree was planted. About twenty of the seventy five city trees to be planted this year have already gone into the ground. If you happen to have a newly planted tree near your home ask about helping out by filling the gator bags with water every week.







Arbor Day 2014

Mayor Polimeni reading the Arbor Day proclamationThe City of Canandaigua Arbor Day 2014 Tree City USA Planting took place at 1 pm on Friday, April 25, 2014. A Green Mountain Sugar Maple was planted in Upper Baker Park.

View more information and photos for the 2014 Arbor Day.






Arbor Day Proclamation

WHEREAS, in 1872, J. Sterling Morton proposed to the Nebraska Board of Agriculture that a special day be set aside for the planting of trees; and

WHEREAS, this holiday, called ARBOR DAY, was first observed with the planting of more than a million trees in Nebraska; and

WHEREAS, ARBOR DAY is now observed throughout the Nation and the World; and

WHEREAS, trees can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating costs and cooling costs, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce oxygen and provide habitat for wildlife; and

WHEREAS, trees are a renewable resource giving us paper, wood for our homes, fuel for our fires and countless other wood products; and

WHEREAS, trees in our City increase property values, enhance the economic vitality of the business areas and beautify our community; and

WHEREAS, trees, wherever they are planted, are a source of joy and spiritual renewal; and

WHEREAS, Canandaigua has been recognized as a "TREE CITY USA" by The National Arbor Day Foundation and desires to continue its tree planting ways;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ellen Polimeni, Mayor of the City of Canandaigua, do hereby proclaim Friday, April 25, 2014

ARBOR DAY

in the City of Canandaigua, New York, and I urge all citizens to support efforts to protect our trees and woodlands and to support our City's urban shade tree program; and

FURTHER, I urge all citizens to plant trees to gladden the hearts and promote the well-being of present and future generations.

Ellen Polimeni
Mayor City of Canandaigua

April 25, 2014

Arbor Day 2013

City Arborist, Chris Dorn explains the benefits of bare root trees to City Manager, David Forrest