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Florissant proclaims Arbor Day, plants 11 trees and honors longtime city forester
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Summary
Florissant declared April 21, 2026, Arbor Day, planted 11 trees at the James J. Egan Center and honored former city forester Doug Schauer; city officials said the plantings are part of recovery after last year’s tornadoes and more than 200 trees have been planted since last Arbor Day.
Patrick Mulcahy, Florissant’s director of administration and economic development, opened an Arbor Day ceremony on April 21, reading a proclamation from Mayor Timothy J. Lowry and the Florissant City Council that declared the day as Arbor Day in the city and presenting it to the city forester.
"This Arbor Day celebration shows how important the trees are to our community," Mulcahy said, and announced that the city would plant 11 new trees at the James J. Egan Center as part of ongoing recovery from last year’s tornadoes.
City forester Eric Hallenberg described Arbor Day as "more than just a tradition. It's a commitment," and said the city has "proudly planted over 200 trees in the city of Florissant since last year's Arbor Day," thanking volunteers and partners for support. He also introduced the ceremony’s honoree, former city forester Doug Schauer, who helped establish Florissant’s Arbor Day observance in 1984.
Amanda Wood, community forester with the Missouri Department of Conservation, thanked the city for the invitation and urged residents to plant and care for trees at home, saying, "When you put trees forward first, that also is putting your residents first as well." She introduced a planting demonstration intended to show residents proper techniques for establishing new trees.
Former city forester Doug Schauer spoke briefly about the early days of the city program and recalled being encouraged by Mayor Egan to pursue Tree City USA recognition. He said the work began with modest tools and hands-on effort and expressed confidence in current staff continuing the city’s urban forestry work.
The proclamation formalizes the city’s stated commitment to tree planting and care, and officials noted partners and donors that contributed trees for the event, including the Missouri Department of Conservation, Forest Leaf of Missouri, and the Gardeners of Florissant. The ceremony included a planting demonstration and remarks intended to encourage ongoing community involvement in canopy restoration.
The event framed the plantings as part of recovery from the previous year’s tornado damage and as a continuation of the city’s long-term urban-forest stewardship. Officials said the planting work and public outreach will continue beyond the ceremony.
