 In 2023, four new communities – Menominee, Negaunee, Beverly Hills and Michiana – joined the increasing number of cities, villages and townships to be certified as a Tree City USA for their efforts to promote and care for public trees within the community.
They are among 121 Michigan communities and 10 college campuses recognized through their respective programs for work accomplished during 2023. All recipients will receive their award materials later this spring.
The newest college campus – Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek – joined nine recertifying schools in the Tree Campus-Higher Education program.
The Tree City USA program has four standards, which were created to allow communities of any size to participate. These include having a city department or tree board, a public tree care ordinance, an annual work plan and a budget of at least $2 per capita and proclaiming and celebrating Arbor Day, which takes place April 26 this year.
The Arbor Day Foundation has been reviewing its Standard 2 Ordinance requirement to make room for any size or type of community. The changes discussed around Standard 2 should open the doors for many more communities across the country to join the program.
To find out more about the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree USA programs, visit arborday.org/programs.
For questions on the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program, contact Lawrence Sobson at [email protected] or 313-316-4137. More information also is available at Michigan.gov/UCF. |
