Roswell celebrated Georgia Arbor Day on February 21, 2026, by ceremonially planting a Black Gum tree at Big Creek Park.
Roswell residents, city leaders, and environmental partners came together to honor decades of environmental stewardship. This year’s event carried special significance as the Tree City USA program celebrated 50 years nationwide, with Roswell proudly marking 33 years as a participating community.
Mayor Mary Robichaux and members of Roswell City Council opened the celebration by reading the official Arbor Day proclamation before planting a Black Gum tree—an elegant native species known for its brilliant scarlet fall color and value to pollinators. Planted beside the park’s wooden trail arbor, the Black Gum now stands as a welcoming gateway into the forest, offering shade, beauty, and ecological benefits for years to come.
Along with the ceremonial Black Gum, an additional Black Gum was added near the trails, and three Sweetbay Magnolias were planted along the forest edge near the parking area. With fragrant white blooms and vital support for pollinators like Georgia’s state butterfly, the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, the Sweetbay Magnolias will soften the landscape and create an inviting arrival into the park year-round.
Throughout the morning, Keep Roswell Beautiful tree experts led guided tours across the park, sharing stories of Big Creek Park’s diverse tree collection. Educational tables and partner organizations provided hands-on learning opportunities, helping attendees of all ages deepen their connection to Roswell’s natural resources.
Protecting and thoughtfully growing our tree canopy is a responsibility we take seriously, and we’re proud to partner with the Arbor Day Foundation in that effort.”
Roswell Mayor Mary Robichaux
Since 1976, the Tree City USA program has connected more than 3,500 communities nationwide to create and maintain green spaces, and Roswell is proud to be part of this growing movement. Here’s to many more years of planting, protecting, and celebrating trees in the City of Roswell.
