BOROUGH OF HANOVER PARTICIPATES IN ARBOR DAY 2025

In celebration of Arbor Day 2025 the Borough of Hanover along with several community groups participated in a full slate of activities. The program began with a special story time presented at the Guthrie Memorial Library, followed by a lesson for the children from Pennsylvania State Forester Matt Kern on how to plant seedling trees which were provided by the Hanover Garden Club. Bartlett Tree Experts also contributed Arbor Day themed goodie bags and additional seedlings for participants. Mayor SueAnn Whitman presented a mayoral proclamation as part of the Borough’s annual Tree City USA recertification requirements.

In addition, the Hanover Auto Team, which has donated and helped to plant shade trees since 2023, sponsored four trees including two Urban Sunset Maples, one Japanese Lilac, and one City Sprite Zelkova, which were planted in the 400 and 500 blocks of Carlisle Street. These trees were chosen by the Borough’s Shade Tree Commission because of their ability to thrive in an urban environment.

Other donations included $1,500 from Met Ed to be used to plant trees along the 100 block of Moul Avenue, as well as a Paperbark Maple which was planted in the Myers Arboretum. The Hanover Garden Club contributed an Exclamation London Plane at Moul Field, and Main Street Hanover donated a Scarlet Oak to be planted at Wirt Park in memory of dedicated volunteer, Andrea Goodson. Hanover resident Mandi Smith, who has donated trees to the Borough for over five years, donated five additional trees to be planted both within the Borough and at Long Arm and Sheppard-Myers Reservoirs, in honor of her late husband Dave Smith. Furthermore, the Shade Tree Commission will plant two street trees, as well as an additional tree at Moul Field. The Public Works staff plants all trees with a mix of lush topsoil, leaf compost, and biochar. Newly planted trees are watered until they are established and then maintained by Borough Public Works staff with professional support from Bartlett Tree Experts.

Arbor Day originated in the 1870’s in Nebraska, and the Arbor Day Foundation was formed in 1972. The Tree City USA program began in 1976 to recognize communities dedicated to trees; Hanover became an official Tree City in 2001, joining over 3,500 other communities in the commitment to tree planting and care for the benefit of the community. To earn Tree City USA recognition, a city must uphold four core standards including maintaining a tree board or department (the Borough’s Shade Tree Commission), having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2.00 per capita on urban forestry, and participating in an Arbor Day celebration. The Borough of Hanover continues to satisfy these standards and recently received official notice of its 2024 Tree City USA status from the foundation. More information about the Shade Tree Commission is available at www.HanoverBoroughPA.gov/201/Shade-Tree-Commission, and more information about the Arbor Day Foundation can be found at www.ArborDay.org.

The Borough of Hanover, York County, Pennsylvania, was incorporated in 1815. The Borough serves the public through stewardship, government, development, and improvements of public assets including water/sewer/stormwater & refuse utilities, parks & recreation facilities, the Hanover Market House, the Guthrie Memorial Library, as well as Code Enforcement, Police & Fire Departments. It is governed by the Borough Council, overseen by the Borough Manager, and staffed by administrative, public service, public works, sewer, water, refuse and engineering professionals. Known as the Snack Food Capital of the World, Hanover is home, not only to numerous food industries, but also to manufacturing, technology, commercial sales, and services. Hanover Borough offices, located at 33 Frederick Street, can be reached at 717-637-3877 or by email at Info@HanoverBoroughPA.gov. More information is available at www.HanoverBoroughPA.gov.