CANTON -- An Arbor Day celebration, sponsored by the Village of Canton and the Canton Tree Committee, will be held Friday, April 24 at 3:30 p.m. at the Bend in the River Park.

Mayor Mary Ann Ashley will kick off the celebration with by reading the Arbor Day Proclamation. Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care.

The village is celebrating two grants awarded by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

One is a DEC Urban Forestry Grant which is in its third year. It provided a total of 60 trees to be planted over three years in a “Green Corridor.” This year 26 trees are being planted along Lincoln Street near the DPW building, the Buck Street playground and the Bend in the River Park. DPW staff take care of the tree plantings.

The second DEC grant provides funding for a tree inventory to record the number, species and current condition of trees in the community. An inventory makes its easier analyze change in condition over time, work out maintenance schedules, develop tree planting schedules and create an overall tree management plan, the press release said.

Additionally, a collaboration between the Tree Committee and St. Lawrence University resulted in the planting eight American chestnut trees this spring.

Canton has been designated a Tree City USA for 2015. A “Tree City USA” sign at a community’s entrance tells visitors that the community cares about its environment.

Anyone is welcome to attend.