By Hayleigh Gowans
Staff Writer
Although Arbor Day is typically celebrated the last Friday in April, town of Manlius officials chose to ring in their 12th consecutive year being designated a Tree City USA at a fall Arbor Day tree planting on Oct. 26 at the town office with the help of students at Between Friends child care center.
“I think to be named a Tree City USA for 12 years now shows the importance the town puts on maintaining the environmental and aesthetic value of trees,” said Supervisor Ed Theobald.
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.
On Oct. 26, children from Between Friends child care center sang tree related songs, and learned more about the importance of trees from Matt Swayze, senior forester for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. They also aided Tom Mullarney, a member of the Town of Manlius Tree Commission and a representative from Bartlett Tree Experts, in planting a hydrangea tree outside of the town offices.
The Town of Manlius Tree Commission is a group of volunteers that work with the New York State Department of Conservation, Cornell Cooperative Extension, the town’s highway department and other environmental organizations to guide decisions on tree health and growth within Manlius.
“There are many aesthetic, economic and environmental value of having a healthy population of trees in an area,” said Nancy Needham, chair of the Town of Manlius Tree Commission. “It is so important and part of what we’re trying to do.”
To learn more about the Tree City USA program, go to arborday.org/programs/treecityUSA/.
