Madras Celebrates Arbor Day

The City of Madras will be celebrating its 26th year as a Tree City USA Community along with the City’s Urban Forestry Commission ("UFC") on Arbor Day, Friday, April 26th, 2018. Our theme this year is, “Trees Are Super Heroes” and the City of Madras invites the community to join staff, members of the UFC, and students from Metolius Elementary at Kenwood Park, located at the corner of Kenwood and Floyd Streets, at 10:00 AM to plant trees in honor of these Super Heroes. Bring a sack lunch and enjoy a picnic after the trees are planted.

The students from Metolius Elementary created posters that were judged by members of the UFC. First place winners of the poster contest will each receive a bird house handmade by the UFC with wood donated by Miller Lumber. Tree saplings donated by Warm Springs Forestry will be available to kids who join us in planting trees at the event!

“Over the last 26 years, the City of Madras has not only distributed trees to property owners for planting, but with the help of volunteers, we’ve planted trees in Kenwood Park, Sahalee Park, along the walking/biking trail, at the Aquatic Center, at several local schools, and along Willow Creek – just to name a few locations,” stated Mayor Ladeby.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. Madras has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community which include a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

“We commend Madras’ elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest,” said John Rosenow, chief executive and found of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees provide numerous environmental, economic and health benefits to millions of people each day, and we applaud communities that make planting and caring for trees a top priority.”