III.2. Adoption of Proclamation for Arbor Day in Hopkins; Larson CITY OF HOPKINS
City Council Report 2024-035
To: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
Mike Mornson, City Manager
From: Mikala Larson, Sustainability Specialist
Date: April 2, 2024
Subject: Proclamation for Arbor Day
_____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
MOTION TO adopt a proclamation for Arbor Day in Hopkins.
OVERVIEW
Arbor Day dates back to the early 1870s in Nebraska City. A journalist by the name of
Julius Sterling Morton moved to the state with his wife and purchased 160 acres in
Nebraska City and planted a wide variety of trees. Morton spread his knowledge of
trees and stressed their ecological importance to Nebraska. And on January 4, 1872,
Morton first proposed a tree planting holiday to be called “Arbor Day” at a meeting of
the State Board of Agriculture. After the board passed the resolution, more than one
million trees were planted on the first official celebration of the day on April 10, 1872.
The City of Hopkins is a recognized Tree City USA community, and is committed to
preserving a healthy and robust tree canopy. This year, Arbor Day is on Friday, April
26th. Arbor Day is a day of recognition and celebration of the benefits and beauty trees
provide, with the intention that the purpose of Arbor Day can be celebrated every day of
the year. On April 25th from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., the City will host an event at the City lot off
Mainstreet between 5th and 6th Avenues, where residents are invited to learn more
about trees, and the City will unveil its new tree planter design.
Next Steps
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a proclamation recognizing April 26,
2024, as Arbor Day.
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
•Proclamation for Arbor Day in Hopkins
•Flyer for 2024 Arbor Day Celebration
Engineering
A Proclamation Commemorating Arbor Day
WHEREAS, in 1872, the Nebraska Board of Agriculture established a special day to be
set aside for the planting of trees; and
WHEREAS, trees are an essential resource to our city and the world, trees make our
homes and community more livable and beautiful; and
WHEREAS, the City of Hopkins is a Tree City USA community and recognizes that trees
can be a solution to combating climate change, they play an important role in cleaning
the air, conserving energy, producing life-giving oxygen, and providing habitat for wildlife;
and
WHEREAS, each year people across the country celebrate Arbor Day and pay special
attention to the treasure our trees represent while we as a society become more aware
that human activities, along with acts of nature, threaten our trees, creating the need for
action to ensure the future of our urban forests; and
NOW THEREFORE, I, Patrick Hanlon, Mayor of the City of Hopkins in the State of
Minnesota, along with my fellow Council Members, recognize, adopt, and proclaim April
26, 2024, as Arbor Day in the City of Hopkins, and urge all residents to be more aware of
the importance of trees to their well-being, and to participate in tree planning programs
that will ensure a healthy and green city.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Seal of the City of
Hopkins, Minnesota to be affixed this 2nd day of
April 2024.
_______________________________________
Patrick Hanlon, Mayor
ARBOR DAY
CELEBRATION WITH THE City of Hopkins
Thursday, April 25, 2024
3 p.m - 5 p.m.
Between 5th and 6th
Avenues off Mainstreet
Join the City of Hopkins
We will have cookies, talk about
to celebrate Arbor Day!
Arbor Day, unveil new tree
planters, and plant a few
trees along Mainsteet!