Members of the Auburn Urban Tree Board and the Auburn Garden Club celebrated Arbor Day on Wednesday morning at Les Gove Park a bit out of the ordinary.

Typically, celebrants would cap the event by planting a tree. But since this particular fragrant snowbell tree is slated to be planted at the confluence of the Green and White Rivers in the Barrier-Free Playground and that is not yet built, its planting will have to until June when work on the playground nears completion. The Auburn Garden Club donated the tree.

City officials joined the public in the celebration. Mayor Pete Lewis proclaimed April 14 as Arbor Day in Auburn and encouraged citizens to support the efforts to protect trees and woodlands, as well as plant trees for 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 four Tree City USA standards. The standards including having a tree governing body; maintaining a comprehensive community forestry program that spends at least $2 per capita on the urban forest; maintaining a tree care ordinance; and holding an annual celebration related to Arbor Day.

As part of Auburn’s Tree City USA designation, the City of Auburn Planning Department manages Community Grants that encourages citizens to apply for tree plantings in residential and commercial neighborhoods. In exchange for financial assistance, groups must commit to plant, water and maintain the trees.

For additional information about the Tree Grants, call the City of Auburn Planning Department at 253-931-3090.

Arbor Day is celebrating its 138th anniversary this month.