Awarded Tree City USA for the 12th Year

  • Published
  • By Wendi Van Buren
  • ODNR Division of Forestry
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  Wright-Patterson recieved it's twelfth Tree City USA Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation, April 17.  

Created in 1976, the Tree City USA award originates from the National Arbor Day Foundation, an organization dedicated to tree planting, conservation and the promotion of community forestry.  Altogether the National Arbor Day Foundation bestowed the honor upon 37 southwest Ohio cities, villages and a township. 

The City of Hamilton hosted the awards event at the Courtyard by Marriot in downtown Hamilton. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry presented the awards to the Tree City USA communities. The title of "Tree City USA" was bestowed upon each community for its ongoing efforts to maintain and improve the quality of life through a concentrated street tree management program. Columbia Township of Hamilton County is the first township in Ohio to receive a Tree City USA award.

During 2008, the 37 communities planted 6,314 balled and burlapped trees, pruned 22,448 trees, and removed 3,993 dead, dying, or diseased trees. Including the donation of 12,446 hours of volunteer time, these and other urban forestry activities were valued at more than $6 million.

The nationally recognized Tree City USA award is presented annually to those communities that have met maintenance standards for trees growing along their streets and in their parks. The four standards are: 1) having designated tree board, forestry professional, or city department responsible for the care of trees in the community; 2) passing a tree care ordinance; 3) having an active forestry program in place with an annual budget of at least two dollars per capita; and 4) proclaiming and hosting an Arbor Day celebration.

Ohio currently boasts the greatest number of Tree Cities in the country with a grand total of 249. The event in Hamilton was one of six regional Tree City USA celebrations in Ohio during the month of April.