Residents lined up Saturday, March 22, to collect hundreds of trees, native plant seeds and information on environmental conservation as Foley celebrated its 44th Arbor Day.

The city, recognized as a Tree City USA for 44 years, also received a new distinction. Gov. Kay Ivey named Foley the 2025 Arbor Day City for Alabama, highlighting its long-standing commitment to tree planting and community beautification.

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

Ryan Peek, coastal program manager with the Alabama Forestry Commission, said the designation honors Foley's decades of work to improve its green spaces.

"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."

Foley's dedication to tree planting is evident in its transformation over the decades. An AFC survey 44 years ago found the city had far fewer trees, mostly pines and water oaks, compared to today's expanded urban canopy.

"We did not have as many trees in Foley, believe it or not, in 1981 as we do now," Hellmich said.

During the celebration, the city gave away 675 trees in 3-gallon buckets, with Boy Scouts assisting in distributing the saplings. Residents took home a variety of species, including 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 provided native milkweed seed packets to support butterfly populations. The seeds will help grow plants that attract and nourish butterflies and their caterpillars.

The city also dedicated three large trees that will be planted in Foley parks in memory of three community leaders: former Mayor John Koniar, City Administrator Perry Wilbourne and City Councilman F.A. "Skip" Davis.