The City of Auburn celebrated Arbor Day with a special planting party at Les Gove Park on Tuesday

City officials, along with volunteers from the Auburn Garden Club, Auburn Tree Board, Auburn Park Board, representatives from the state Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Community Forestry Council planted a Green Vase Zelkova tree as part of the Arbor Day commemoration. The Green Vase Zelkova Tree is donated by the Auburn Garden Club.

Mayor Pete Lewis also proclaimed April 3 as Arbor Day in Auburn and encouraged all citizens to support the efforts to protect trees and woodlands, and plant trees to gladden the heart and promote the well-being of this and future generations.

Auburn is recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA, which recognizes communities that effectively manage their urban forest and meet certain criteria.

In 2012, Arbor Day will be celebrating its 140th anniversary.