Canton Township Hosts Tree Planting Ceremony

Canton Township officials held a Tree Planting Ceremony during its Annual Fishing Derby on May 4, 2024, to recognize and celebrate securing $20,000 in federal grant funds that were administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to replant some of the hundreds of trees that were damaged or destroyed in and around Heritage Park during the August 2023 tornado that briefly touched down in the Canton community.

Canton Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak led the festivities, which were also attended by U. S. Representative Debbie Dingell (MI-06), that took place in Heritage Park near Canton's veterans' memorial. At this location, six Columnar Oak trees were added to honor the six branches of the U.S. Military: the Army; Marine Corps; Navy; Air Force; Space Force; and Coast Guard.

Funding for this grant comes from the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry program, which requires one-to-one matching funds for projects on non-federal, public lands or lands open to the public. Canton's tree restoration project utilized these grant funds to add 83 trees to Heritage Park and 21 trees to Griffin Park. Five species of new trees were introduced that are not part of Canton's current tree inventory. These include the American Beech, Bitternut Hickory, Black Tupelo, Cucumbertree Magnolia, and Katsura. All of these trees were selected for their ability to thrive in soil with fluctuating moisture and salt conditions, to adapt to changing environmental conditions, as well as their ability to withstand storm damage.

"Canton is grateful to have received this grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources that will help support our goal to create a greener, more resilient, healthier community for everyone," stated Canton Supervisor Anne Marie Graham-Hudak. "These federal funds have helped the township replace the damaged trees in our parks that play such an essential role in contributing to the overall aesthetics and livability of our community."

Canton Parks and Planning Services staff collaborated on this tree restoration plan to plant a total of 100 trees in Canton's Heritage Park and Griffin Park in the spring of 2024.

Canton Parks and Canton Planning Services are all divisions of Canton Township, which is the second-largest township and the ninth-most-populated municipality in the state of Michigan. Canton Township offers engaging, inclusive, and diverse recreational programs, events, and services, as well as cultural activities, for all ages and abilities that make Canton, MI a great place to live, learn, work, and explore.

For more information about Canton Township, including its administration of the U.S. Forest Service's Urban and Community Forestry program grant, please visit www.cantonmi.gov or call 734/394-5360.