Representatives from the village and town of Manlius joined together last week to celebrate Arbor Day, recognize the 11th year the town of Manlius has been named a Tree City USA and show the importance of making the area a tree-friendly place to live by planting a serviceberry tree that was donated by the Manlius Lions Club.
On Tuesday, May 12, town of Manlius Supervisor Ed Theobald and Manlius Village Mayor Paul Whorrall welcomed a group of about 30 citizens to Gazebo Park in the village of Manlius to celebrate the day.
“When I first started at the town, I noticed a five-year Tree City USA award for the town of Manlius,” said Theobald. “And now it’s the 11th year — time sure flies.”
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.
There are more than 3,400 communities that are currently recognized as Tree City USA communities. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and National Association of State Foresters.
At the event, the Manlius Lions Club donated a serviceberry tree to be planted in the park near the gazebo. Tom Mullarney from Bartlett Tree Experts and John Skinner from National Grid both spoke to the crowd about the importance of considering factors, such as size, type and location, when planting a tree.
Although the village of Manlius does not have a tree committee — and therefore has never been named a Tree City USA — there has been interest in the local village government to work towards forming one. The village already has a beautification committee that is working toward improving the trees within the village.
“Trees are important to the quality of life here in the village,” Whorrall said. “We want to continue to work with the town to make sure this happens.”
Hayleigh Gowans is a reporter for the Eagle Bulletin. She can be reached at [email protected].
