UPDATE: New Time For Livingston Arbor Day 2017 Event

LIVINGSTON -- The Arbor Day event in the below post has been moved from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to a Livingston township update issued on Thursday afternoon. The original post follows with updated time.

All residents are invited to come celebrate Livingston Township's annual Arbor Day tree planting at 3 p.m. on Friday, April 28, near the Gazebo on Memorial Oval.

“Each year, we celebrate Arbor Day by planting Weeping Cherry Trees, which typically flower in May," Department of Public Works Superintendent Mike Anello stated. "The branches of these particular trees move easily in the breeze, and their large, pink blossoms provide a striking backdrop for the Gazebo and the Force Home.”

Livingston has been certified as a Tree City USA for eight years, thanks to a dedicated effort to expand and enhance our greenery. The township engages in considerable tree recycling efforts, and provides extensive land use planning coordination.

“I hope residents will join us on April 28 on the Oval to celebrate Arbor Day,” stated Mayor Shawn Klein. ”It’s easy to take trees for granted. However, they play a critical role in helping to improve air quality by filtering out dust and particles. Trees help conserve water and give us a renewable source of fuel and food, and they provide shelter for our local wildlife.”

“Trees also increase property values and reduce energy use,” Klein continued. "They add to the beauty of our homes and the neighborhoods in which we live, work, and play. All of these are great reasons to honor Arbor Day and plant a tree.”

Arbor Day is a national holiday celebrated on the last Friday in April. Since 1872, when pioneer J. Sterling Morton first dedicated the holiday to tree planting, Arbor Day has continued to reshape the landscape of America. The Arbor Day Foundation distributes and plants an estimated 15 million trees each year and provides citizens with a valuable resource.

Arbor Day, however, is not the only time the township plants trees.

“In addition to our annual Arbor Day planting, we have other tree-planting occasions,” explained Mike Anello. “Residents sometimes ask to plant a tree as a gift to the town or in someone’s honor. Planting them near the Gazebo is the perfect spot – it’s on the Oval, near several of our Memorials, and behind the Force home. They add color to the area and create a nice environment for our residents to enjoy.”

For more information about Tree City USA go to www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA. For more information about Arbor Day Foundation programs and its mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees, go to www.arborday.org. For more information on the township’s eco-friendly initiatives visit www.livingstonnj.org.