The town of DeWitt has received recognition as a 2015 Tree City USA community with a growth award from the Arbor Day Foundation at a ceremony in Albany on March 26.
To achieve a Tree City USA recognition, a community must meet four core standards, including maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.
According to the Arbor Day Foundation’s website, the Tree City USA Growth Award is given to participating Tree City USA communities to “recognize higher levels of tree growth …. and highlights innovative programs and projects, increased commitment resources for urban forestry and provides an opportunity to share new ideas and successes across the country.”
There are more than 3,400 communities that are currently recognized as Tree City USA communities and more than 500 who also qualify to receive a growth award, like the town of DeWitt has.
Brian Skinner, senior forester with National Grid and advisor to the DeWitt Tree Committee, and Greg Michel, head of the Onondaga Earth Corps, received awards at this Tree City Recognition Ceremony for their major contributions to urban forestry in Central New York.
Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].
