City of Fargo partners with schools and environmental groups for Arbor Day tree planting initiative
Fargo, North Dakota – The City of Fargo is preparing to celebrate Arbor Day with a large community tree planting event that will bring together students, city officials, environmental groups, and park staff in an effort to strengthen the city’s urban forest.
The Arbor Day celebration is scheduled for Friday, May 22, beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Anderson Park Softball Complex located at 4200 23rd Avenue South, directly across from the Red River Zoo.
The event is being organized through a partnership involving the City of Fargo Forestry Department, the Fargo Park District, River Keepers, and Fargo Public Schools. Officials said the celebration will begin with a short ceremony that includes the official reading of Fargo’s Arbor Day Proclamation before volunteers and students begin planting trees throughout the park area.
More than 100 students from Carl Ben Eielson Middle School are expected to participate in the planting effort alongside employees from the City of Fargo and Fargo Park District. Organizers expect the event to continue for approximately two hours.
Fargo Marks Nearly Five Decades as Tree City USA
The Arbor Day celebration also comes as Fargo receives another major environmental recognition. The Arbor Day Foundation recently named Fargo a 2026 Tree City USA community, marking the 49th consecutive year the city has earned the distinction.
The Tree City USA program was first created in 1976 to encourage cities and towns across the country to establish and maintain healthy urban forests. Communities receiving the recognition must meet several national standards tied to tree management and environmental investment.
According to officials, qualifying communities are required to maintain a tree board or forestry department, adopt a community tree ordinance, spend at least $2 per resident on urban forestry programs, and officially celebrate Arbor Day.
City leaders say Fargo’s continued recognition reflects decades of investment in parks, trees, and environmental stewardship throughout the community. Urban forestry programs are often credited with improving air quality, reducing heat, supporting wildlife habitats, and creating more attractive public spaces for residents.
The upcoming event is also designed to help students learn more about environmental responsibility while directly contributing to the city’s long-term tree canopy growth. Organizers say community involvement remains one of the most important parts of maintaining healthy urban forests for future generations.
