NORTHVILLIANS,
This week, we will touch on Earth Day (4/22) along with Arbor Day (4/26) activities in the Northville area where we encourage individuals to plant trees for the benefit of our society. Fittingly, this past weekend there was a Cemeterian Task Force crew headed up by Chair David Marold that organized a training and cleanup of headstones under the two-hundred-year-old oaks at Oakwood Cemetery. I would like to reflect on our local historical conservation efforts including initiatives such as caring for our prize-winning trees, aided by our Northville Tree Champions organization. Many citizens don’t realize that we are a Tree City USA community, and we have had State and National Champion trees throughout our 200-year history.
Here’s a quick look at Earth Day and Arbor Day History…
Arbor Day is April 26th and is an observance day during which individuals and groups are encouraged to plant & care for trees. Countries worldwide celebrate this special day, too. Notably, as early as 1892, The Northville Record printed an Arbor Day Proclamation from our Governor at the time (Edwin B. Winans) encouraging all Michiganders to plant a tree.
Earth Day is also an annual global event and was established to inspire support for environmental stewardship. First held on April 22, 1970 (55 years ago), it now includes a wide range of events coordinated worldwide. More than 1 billion people in over 200 countries have participated in Earth Day celebrations. The official theme for 2025 is “Our Power, Our Planet.”
Highlights of Earth Day, Arbor Day, and Tree City Activities in Northville:
The Arbor Day Foundation has awarded the City of Northville (for many years) the great distinction of being a “Tree City USA” community. We have more than 3,100 trees on city property, not including our parks. Our Northville Tree Champions group promotes tree appreciation, growth, and preservation.
As we celebrate Earth Day/Arbor Day, I want to recognize our City’s Sustainability Team (Kathy Spillane – Chair). They’ve accomplished a great deal over the past few years in support of a “more sustainable Northville.” … a few of their achievements:
Established the Northville Tree Champions Group (Jim Porterfield – Chair) to focus on the care and enhancement of our TREE Canopy
Completed a comprehensive overall Walkability Study for the City of Northville
In partnership with the Riverwalk Task Force (Nancy Darga – Chair), developed a Mobility Network Study analyzing the flow & safety of our City streets in harmony with our historic trees
Worked with DDA (Shawn Riley – Chair) to implement additional EV Charging Stations & transition to more efficient Downtown LED Lighting
Legacy Tree locations have been identified in Northville & included in the City’s comprehensive tree database. See Majestic Tree Tour: Link … Some standouts are:
- The Black Walnut on Rogers which is about 189 inches around (over 15 Feet)
- On W. Cady Street there is a grand Sycamore, 200-year-old Oaks in Oakwood Cemetery along with a magnificent Elm behind City Hall which has been transformed into a history tree carving commissioned by the Northville Community Support Fund. Link
- There is a beautiful majestic White Oak on Main Street
- A resplendent Silver Maple on Eaton Drive with a girth of almost 224 inches (16 feet+)
- Fish Hatchery Park – I encourage you to walk about the “native-to-Michigan” plants & trees on the river’s edge and experience the rejuvenation of this area. All this was made possible through a cooperative grant bestowed on the City & Township. Look for trout in this spring-fed, cold-water stream.
- In 1960, Jack Hoffman (Editor of The Record) mentioned that the Northville/Novi area was known for its old growth trees. At that time, Northville had National Champion Trees and many State Champions.
- Other local trees of note – the Scotch Pines in Northville’s Cass Benton Park, & the giant White Oak in front of Guernsey’s on Novi Rd & the Beech Trees at Maybury State Park.
- The Bennett Arboretum (oldest in the State), located in Wayne County’s Hines Park between Six & Seven Mile, was established in the 1930’s and still has over 100 of the original 470 specimen trees remaining. It’s a gem in our own back yard.
I encourage you on your next walk to envision what these landmark trees have seen in their time – from Northville’s birth as one of the first milling communities in the State in the 1820’s to a century later when Northville was ranked #2 in production and GNP in Michigan. Notably, Henry Ford with wife Clara walked the streets of our town under its historic tree canopy starting in the 1880’s on his honeymoon, and later with friends Thomas Edison, Harvey Firestone and John Burroughs the environmentalist (the so-called Vagabonds group).
Our entire 200-year history of Northville has evolved as our seedlings became mature legacy trees through the passage of time … stroll past them sometime. As the weather breaks, take time to truly enjoy the greenspaces, waterways, and unique topography of this “Hamlet in the Hills” we call Northville with its Tree canopy of life.
Keep that Northville Earth Day and Arbor Day Faith!
Brian Turnbull
Mayor – Northville
BTurnbull@ci.northville.mi.us / 248.505.6849
(Reach out to me anytime or forward this communication to others interested.)
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