Geneva Springs into May with Arbor Day Festivities, Community Days, and “Ask the Arborist” on May 3rd

The Geneva City Council meeting on April 28, 2025, revealed plans for a busy Saturday of community events on May 3rd. The day begins with a 10:00 AM Arbor Day tree planting ceremony at Little People’s Park, organized by the Sustainability and Change Commission in partnership with the city arborist.

From noon to 2:00 PM, Geneva Community Days will take place at Memorial Field, featuring a special ceremony honoring Gary Strong, a longtime recreation director whose service dated back to the 1950s. During the festivities, from 12:00 to 1:00 PM, residents can participate in “Ask the Arborist,” bringing photos or questions about their trees for expert advice.

The council also proclaimed May 2025 as National Tennis Month, highlighting the city’s impressive tennis legacy, including the boys team’s 49 conference titles in 58 years and the girls team’s 18 conference titles in 25 years. A free Family Tennis Day will be held on Saturday, May 10th, from 10:00 AM to noon at Geneva Middle School.

In other business, the council recognized Timothy Bittner’s retirement after 31 years of service to the city, most recently as Street Superintendent, and approved two resolutions: one authorizing an agreement with the firefighters’ union and another approving the purchase of a combination sewer jet/vac truck.

Fire Chief David Shook reported that the department responded to 752 incidents in 2024, the highest number in department history, while City Manager Joseph Varckette provided updates on the West Main Street project, which is expected to be completed in September 2025.