Whitehall and Montague were again among 122 Michigan communities designated as Tree City USA participants by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources last Thursday, celebrating 50 years of the program.
Muskegon, which was also designated a Tree City USA participant, additionally was one of 14 communities to receive Growth Award recognition "for going above and beyond."
“Our Arbor Day Foundation Program participants have done an amazing job with their tree work this past year," said Lawrence Law, urban forester and outreach coordinator for the Michigan DNR. "This is my fourth year managing this program for Michigan and it’s great to talk to these communities and groups that want to do more to provide their residents with the benefits that come from trees."
With 2026 marking the 50th anniversary of the Tree City USA program, Law said it's important to take pride in the work Michigan's communities do and to think about why we celebrate those efforts.
"Tree City recognition comes with years and years of work, dedication and participation, all for the enjoyment and benefit of community members today," Law said.
Communities don’t plant trees for the present, Law said, but to make a positive difference to people in the future we'll never meet.
To find out more about the Arbor Day Foundation’s various Tree USA programs, visit arborday.org/programs.
