Harford County Plants 530 Trees for Arbor Day

More than 200 people attended a recent celebration in Havre de Grace, where Harford County celebrated being named a "Tree City USA" by the Arbor Day Foundation, according to a statement from the county.

Volunteers planted 400 seedlings and 130 larger trees of varying species at the event Friday in Chapel Road Park.

To be designated as a tree city, a jurisdiction must have a tree board or department, tree care ordinance, community forestry program with at least $2 budgeted per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation, according to the Arbor Day Foundation.

"We are excited to be honored once again by the National Arbor Day Foundation with the ‘Tree City USA’ award," Harford County Executive David R. Craig said at the celebration. This is the eleventh year Harford County has been named a "Tree City USA."

More than 3,400 communities have been recognized through the Tree City USA program. Bel Air has been a "Tree City USA" for 22 years, Aberdeen Proving Ground for nine years and Havre de Grace for 13 years.

Last year's Arbor Day celebration in Harford County was in Edgewood.

Arbor Day nationally takes place the last Friday in April, though states recognize it at different times based on the best occasion for planting.