In recognition of Arbor Day, the City of Pierre will add a tree to Mayors’ Grove in honor of current mayor Steve Harding.
Mayors’ Grove is located in Hipple Park just west of the Discovery Center and is home to a tree for each of the people who have been elected mayor of Pierre.
Mayor Steve Harding has selected a seedless cottonwood for the Grove. With help from the City’s Arbor Board, he will plant the new cottonwood April 24 next week (at 3pm).
During the tree planting ceremony, the South Dakota Department of Agriculture will re-certify the City of Pierre as a Tree City USA. This marks the 36th year Pierre has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. To be recognized as a Tree City USA, a community has to demonstrate sound urban forestry practices, including having an Arbor Board and tree-maintenance ordinances.
Along the theme of Arbor Day, Dr. John Ball from South Dakota State University will provide a public tree care seminar focusing on Emerald Ash Borer mitigation Monday evening (April 22 at 7pm) at the SDSU Regional Extension Center (412 W. Missouri Avenue) in Pierre. City Arbor Board Chairman Art Smith will share information on the city’s Emerald Ash Borer management plan.
Both the Emerald Ash Borer seminar and the tree planting ceremony are free and open to the public.
South Dakota recognizes Arbor Day on the last Friday in April each year. This year’s that’s April 26.
The City’s Arbor Board is a volunteer group appointed by the Mayor to advise on and lead tree care efforts in the City of Pierre. Current members are Tony Dorschner, Will Hanson, Rollie Isaacson, Adam Kulesa, Rachel Ormseth, Art Smith and Mark Smith.
