Brighton Celebrates Arbor Day as a Tree City USA

Hamburg Township resident Bryan Johnston had no idea that when he brought his two young daughters to the Mill Pond to feed the ducks on Friday morning, he would actually be teaching them to plant a tree.

The City of Brighton celebrated its 10th annual year of being a Tree City USA, program sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, by holding its annual Arbor Day Celebration.

Johnston and his daughters, Autumn, 3, and Mia, 1, planted the city's new tree - a flowering dogwood - during the celebration. The new tree stands at the top of the hill at the Mill Pond, near St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

"I have Fridays off, so Fridays are daddy-daughter days," Johnston said.

There are four requirments for the city to maintain its Tree City USA status: have a tree board that manages trees in the public right of way, have a tree care ordinance, spend at least $2 per capita on trees and hold an annual Arbor Day Observance.

"We feel that trees are important to the community," DPS Administrative Assistant Patty Thomas said. "Arbor Day is our way to showing the community that the City of Brighton cares about trees. It is also a way for us to let the public know the importance of trees."