In celebration of Northport’s fourth Arbor Day observance, a tree planting ceremony will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. on the northeast corner of the Northport Public School grounds just off Shabwasung Street.
The Arbor Day celebration ceremony is a requirement for Northport’s yearly renewal of its Tree City designation. To achieve tree city USA status, four standards established by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters must be met.
These standards include establishing a tree board or department, having a public tree care ordinance, providing a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita (tree plantings and maintenance), and having an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. Northport is now in its third year as a designated Tree City.
Northport tree committee member Bob Newell said this year they are planting a Redbud tree during the ceremony with help from students and community members. Around 3 p.m., approximately 18 white cedar trees will also be given to children at Leelanau Township Library, courtesy of the Neighborhood Forest organization. The Arbor Day tree planting is the first of this year’s expected 25 trees to be planted.
In addition to this year’s celebration, Newell said the tree committee will be donating two books each to the Leelanau Township and Northport Public School libraries. Librarians will be free to choose the books, one for younger children and the other for older students, but Newell said they request they be about trees or the environment.
“The money for the tree and the books is courtesy of all those community members who donate their cans and bottles at our recycle center. We wish to convey our thanks to them for their continued support that makes our program possible,” Newell said.
In 2024, 24 trees were planted throughout town at various locations. Since the tree committee started collecting returnables at the recycling center in 2023, they’ve raised more than $20,000 in funds to go towards efforts like tree plantings.
“That allowed us to plant the 24 trees last year and set us up to plant up to 25 trees this year,” said tree committee member Nicole Arbury. “Most trees have been planted in the village, though we have worked with Leelanau Township to expand our reach and share our resources.”
If people are interested in helping with future tree plantings, contact Newell at 313-204-8312.
