Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – Foley's 44th Arbor Day, celebrated on Saturday, February 22nd, was a bustling event focused on community and environmental improvement. Residents showed up in large numbers, forming lines to receive hundreds of free trees and seeds for butterfly gardens. The event also provided a platform for disseminating information on how residents could contribute to a greener and healthier community.

“This is part of the effort to beautify Foley,” Mayor Ralph Hellmich told the audience. “We are a Tree City and we make great efforts to plant trees.”

Ryan Peek, coastal program manager with the Alabama Forestry Commission, said Foley was also recognized by Gov. Kay Ivey as the 2025 Arbor Day City for Alabama. He said the designation recognizes Foley’s many years of efforts to plant trees and improve the community environment.

“Y'all have been a Tree City USA for 44 years. That is incredibly impressive,” Peek said. “The Tree City program first started in 1976. Through the diligence of your elected leaders and city supervisors and personnel, they've been able to maintain that, and that's all come to fruition.”

Hellmich said an AFC tree survey conducted 44 years ago, found that Foley had far fewer trees at that time than the city has today.

“We did not have as many trees in Foley, believe it or not, in 1981 as we do now and most of those were pine trees and water oaks,” Hellmich said. 

During the event, the city distributed 675 trees planted in 3-gallon buckets. Boy Scouts helped hand out the saplings to waiting residents. Varieties of trees given away included bald cypress, Nellie R. Stevens holly, willow oak, live oak, summer red maple, green giant arborvitae, Carolina sapphire and Japanese cedar. 

Riviera Utilities and the Baldwin County Master Gardeners distributed packets of native milkweed seeds. The seeds can be used to grow plants that will attract and nourish butterflies and their caterpillars.

The city also dedicated three larger trees that will be planted in Foley parks in recognition of three residents and their service to the community. Trees will be planted in memory of former Mayor John Koniar, City Administrator Perry Wilbourne and F.A. “Skip” Davis,” a City Councilman and community leader.