The City of Fond du Lac will observe its annual Arbor Day celebration on Friday, April 29, 2016 at the Lakeside Park Pavilion starting at 1:00 p.m. Festival Foods will be donating the Arbor Day tree and the tree seedlings. The Arbor Day tree will be planted by a third grade class from St Peter’s Lutheran School in Lakeside Park. The public is welcome to attend to help celebrate Arbor Day with the school children and learn more about Fond du Lac’s urban forestry program. The City will be receiving its 28th Tree City USA Award and its 14th Tree USA Growth Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation. Tracy Salisbury, the Northeast Regional Urban Forestry Coordinator, will present the award to the City. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. Fond du Lac has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community: having a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive forestry program and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. Communities that receive Tree City USA recognition not only have taken the time to meet these four standards, they recognize that:
- Trees promote healthier communities. Leaves filter the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles.
- Trees moderate climate, conserve water and provide habitat for wildlife.
- Trees in urban areas reduce the heat island effect caused by pavement and buildings.
- Properly placed trees can increase property values, and buildings in wooded areas rent more quickly and tenants stay longer.
The Tree USA Growth Award is awarded by the Arbor Day Foundation to recognize higher levels of tree care by participating Tree City USA communities. The Growth Award highlights innovative programs and projects, increased commitment resources for urban forestry, and provides an opportunity to share new ideas and successes across the country. In 2015, the City qualified for the award in 2 categories 1) Partnerships 2) Planning and Management
More information about Tree City USA can be found at www.arbor.org/TreeCityUSA. More information on the benefits of trees in your yard or terrace can be found at: www.treebenefit.com
