Roseburg To Celebrate Arbor Month With Tree Plantings, Photo Contest And Family Activities

ROSEBURG, Ore. – Roseburg Parks and Recreation invites the community to celebrate Arbor Month with special activities including tree plantings and a photo contest throughout April.

On Monday, April 13, Mayor Larry Rich is expected to proclaim April as “Arbor Month” in Roseburg, where the Tree City USA flag will fly outside City Hall throughout April. Arbor Day is officially Friday, April 24.

Roseburg is marking a decade of “Tree City” recognition. Roseburg was first designated as a “Tree City” in 2016 by the Arbor Day Foundation, which has been using the “Tree City USA” program since 1976 to encourage the expansion and preservation of urban forests through tree planting and effective management and recognition of “green” communities. The City has applied to retain that title each year and the title has been renewed again in 2026.

“Tree care is a year-long commitment. In April, which we like to refer to as Arbor Month, we get to educate and invite the community to take part in various tree-themed activities,” said Parks & Recreation Program Manager Val Ligon. “We hope that the education and momentum gained carries on throughout the entire year.”

Parks and Rec staff will offer Arbor Month activities and educational posts all month long.

Tips for celebrating and caring for trees will be posted to social media twice a week on Mondays and Fridays throughout April. Starting Friday, April 3, watch the Parks Facebook page and City Administration’s Facebook page for tips on choosing the right tree for your yard, planting, watering, pruning and more.

Parks and Recreation is also sponsoring the 2026 Arbor Day Photo Contest. Enter the contest from now through 5 p.m. Friday, April 17. The top three photos will be announced on Arbor Day on Parks’ and City Administration’s Facebook pages. Winning photos also will be highlighted in the City Connection e-newsletter this spring. Learn how to enter the contest.

“There’s a lot to do in Roseburg during Arbor Month that centers around trees,” said Recreation Coordinator Tracy David.

“One of my favorite places to go and see trees in town is Riverfront Park because the trees there are all very old and have acquired a huge variety of wildlife living in them,” she said. “I love walking through and seeing the woodpeckers hop from tree to tree. It’s like they have such a lively community above our heads. You’ll also be able to see squirrels, as well as other bird species.”

From Wednesday, April 15, through Thursday, April 30, Parks and Recreation staff will team up with Roseburg Public Library staff to offer an Arbor Month tree-themed activity booklet for kids and families. A booklet featuring word scrambles, Sudoku, crossword puzzles and connect-the-dots can be picked up at the library, 1409 N.E. Diamond Lake Blvd., or downloaded from Parks’ webpage. Turn a completed booklet into the library by Saturday, May 2, to claim a prize.

“It’s something you can do inside, especially since April is sometimes pretty rainy. It’s actually a great family activity booklet,” David said.

Parks and Rec staff are also offering a community volunteer tree-planting event in the Stewart Park Natural Area at 9 a.m. on Arbor Day, April 24. Residents are invited to meet Parks staff at the parking lot in the natural area, also known as the “duck pond,” to help plant 20 trees along Newton Creek.

The trees will be two native species: a cottonless poplar and Oregon white oak.

“It’s going to be some hard work. Children can come, but they definitely want to have parents along because they’ll be digging and planting trees,” David said.

The Umpqua Valley Audubon Society will demonstrate how to install a bird house in a tree or using a post.