38th annual Arbor Day hosted at Father Marquette Park

MARQUETTE — Arbor Day is usually celebrated on the last Friday of April but since the weather in the Upper Peninsula disagreed with that plan it was moved to today.

The city of Marquette hosted its 38th annual Arbor Day Planting today, where a shagbark hickory tree funded by a grant from the American Transmission Company, was the first tree to be planted since the parks renovation had started. The renovations include added security to the park, lights for the statue, as well as a ramp to help give access to others who want to enjoy the park.

These efforts to renovate the park were brought by the Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee who have been working closely with the cities Arborist on helping bring this park back to life.

“I’ve worked with the Beautification Committee, they have been working hard updating and upgrading the Father Marquette Park,” said, Marquette City Arborist, Paul Albert. “You know this one tree planting is sort of a beginning of the end of that process and the start of the end landscape that we are going to have here.”

The planting was assisted by members of the Marquette Beautification and Restoration Committee which is celebrating its 40th birthday. The city will also be hosting a re-dedication to the park at Father Marquette Park on July 15th at 2 pm.