For the 34th consecutive year, the City of Greenville has earned the Tree City USA designation.

The City celebrated the accomplishment during its annual Arbor Day tree-planting event held on March 10 at C.M. Eppes Middle School. This year's location was selected by ReLeaf, a nonprofit that promotes and develops tree-planting projects in Greenville, to coincide with an essay contest held at the school.

During the event, the City and North Carolina Forest Service joined the essay contest winners in planting six Trident maple trees on the south side of the school.

“Tree City is so important because it is a catalyst, especially for younger generations to jump in behind us and continue to make Greenville greener,” City of Greenville Assistant Public Works Director Kevin Heifferon said.

The city’s Arbor Day celebration and its ordinances designed to protect trees have resulted in Greenville being recognized as a Tree City USA community for the past 34 years, Heifferon said.

Nationally, Arbor Day is celebrated on April 28, but in North Carolina Arbor Day is celebrated on March 17.