Story By MARY BAILEY
On Friday morning the city of Boaz planted a tree at Boaz Parks and Recreation Center in honor of Arbor Day.
For the last 35 years the city of Boaz has been recognized as “Tree City USA.”
Sonja Hard, Parks and Recreation Director, opened the ceremony.
“We have had many, many trees planted around the city, and I am fortunate to have been a part of that in the last eight years. It has been a joy to do that. As you know you can go around the city and see many of the trees we have planted in the past. Again, thank you all for being here. Robinson & Waldrop thank y’all so much, they donated the tree for us to plant today and replaced one that didn’t make it sadly,” Hard said during the event. “2025 marks the 35th year that Boaz has been named a “Tree City USA” by the Arbor Day Foundation. To be recognized as a Tree City USA, the Arbor Day Foundation has standards that must be met including an annual Arbor Day Tree Plant Ceremony.”
The Boaz Parks and Recreation center hosted this year’s event and wanted to give special thanks to Robinson & Waldrop Landscape Group who donated the beautiful Willow Oak to replace a tree that did not survive the winter.
Alabama Forestry Commission members Michael Williams and Luke Holden, who represent Marshall County, were also present for the planting of the city’s newest tree.
“We are just glad to be here today,” Representative Williams said. “Boaz has been 35 years of tree city and that’s something. That is a really high number. It takes work every year to do the paperwork and set up the Arbor Day celebration, it takes hard work and time. We just appreciate everybody involved in making this happen and we appreciate the city in recognizing that it is important to take care of the trees and people. Thank y’all again for having us today.”
To conclude the ceremony, Boaz Mayor David Dyar read the official proclamation.
Those in attendance were Mateo Jimenez, John Paul and Lorenzo of Robinson and Waldrop Landscape Group, Alabama Forestry Commission members Michael Williams and Luke Holden, Boaz Parks & Recreation staff Sonja Hard, Todd Russell, Lance Morgan, Heather Corbin, Camron Bethune, Daniel Kerr and Jared Sims; Boaz City staff Jeff Sims and Whitney Walls; Boaz City Chamber of Commerce President Jill Johnson; Boaz City Street Department, Austin Hartline; Boaz City Police Department: Chief Mike Turner, Assistant Chief Michael Hempel, Jonathan Pitts and Spencer Jacobs; Boaz City Fire Department, Chief Jeff Beck; Boaz City Council Members David Ellis and Johnny Willis.
