On Friday, city officials — aided by local students — had an opportunity to celebrate Arbor Day with the planting of 10 trees at Ogden Botanical Gardens, according to a press release from Ogden City.

“Ogden City Public Works and the Parks and Cemetery staff marked the occasion alongside volunteers, while also celebrating 42 years of recognition as Tree City USA community through the Arbor Day Foundation,” the release said. “Volunteers from Leadership Learning Academy, including 44 sixth graders, helped plant 10 trees, adding a mix of Columnar Tulips, Slender Silhouette Sweet Gum, Raspberry Spear Crabapple and Kindred Spirit Oak.”

Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski said these trees are symbolic of those planting them rooting themselves to the city.

“There’s a lot of people across the world who use Arbor Day to remember something much deeper and it starts with the words — roots or rooted,” he said. “We’re going to plant trees in the ground and it’s our hope and expectation that we’ve created an Earth and soil and conditions for those roots to take hold. I want to challenge each of you today, and I hope days beyond today, when you see a tree that you think about the roots that you are planted in.”

The release noted “Tree City USA recognizes communities committed to planting, caring for and protecting public trees. This award is given annually by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service, with their State representative Morgan Mendenhall attending today.”

In addition to the tree planting, the release said that Rocky Mountain Power also donated $2,000 to Ogden City to plant additional trees in the city’s parks.