With an estimated 24,000 trees throughout the community, Skokie has been designated as a Tree City for over 30 years. Skokie meets all Tree City USA requirements, including having a forestry department, which is a function of the Public Works Department. Tree City USA also requires that every designated Tree City have a tree care ordinance, allocate funding for tree care and hold an Arbor Day ceremony and proclamation on or around the last Friday in April of each year. The public is invited to attend the 2019 Arbor Day ceremony, a family-friendly event that will be held on Friday, April 26 at 10 a.m. on the grounds of the MCC Academy, 9301 Gross Point Road. The Arbor Day ceremony will include a reading of the Arbor Day proclamation, comments about the importance and value of trees by Mayor Van Dusen and Village Forester Elizabeth Zimmerman, as well as the planting of at least one new tree on the school grounds. The Arbor Day ceremony is hosted by the Village of Skokie, the Village’s Beautification and Improvement Commission and the Skokie Park District. For more information, please contact the village forester at 847/933-8427.