Fond du Lac Celebrates 38th Tree City Award on Arbor Day

Elementary school students in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, are leading their community's Arbor Day celebration on April 24, proving that environmental stewardship starts young.

The students will plant a tree donated by Festival Foods in front of the Lakeside Park pavilion at 1 p.m. The planting marks Fond du Lac receiving its 38th consecutive Tree City USA award from the Arbor Day Foundation.

To earn the recognition, cities must maintain a tree board, enforce tree care rules, dedicate at least $2 per person annually to forest management, and host an Arbor Day event. Fond du Lac has met all four requirements for nearly four decades.

The award comes during the Tree City USA program's 50th anniversary year. More than 3,400 communities across America now participate in the program, which launched in 1974 to encourage cities to protect and grow their tree canopies.

"This 50th anniversary of Tree City USA is a testament to the fact that people recognize trees as essential infrastructure, not just aesthetics," said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. Trees cool neighborhoods, clean the air, and improve quality of life in measurable ways.

The Ripple Effect

Fond du Lac's commitment reflects a growing national movement. The Arbor Day Foundation has partnered with Subaru of America to distribute 65,000 trees nationwide this year through the Subaru Loves the Earth initiative. It's the second year of the community effort.

The foundation aims to plant 500 million trees by 2027, focusing on expanding urban tree cover and restoring forests in areas that need them most. Every tree planted in cities like Fond du Lac contributes to that ambitious goal.

When those elementary students dig into the soil on April 24, they're not just planting a single tree. They're continuing a 38-year tradition of environmental care that makes their community healthier for everyone who calls it home.