40 years awarded Tree City USA

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. The program has been greening up cities and towns across America since 1976. It is a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees. The City of Hillsdale is included in the 115 communities statewide that take part in the program. The City of Hillsdale has been granted the Tree City USA award this year making it 40 years of continued improvements of the urban tree canopy and care of the city trees.

This year the City of Hillsdale will celebrate Arbor Day on April 23rd, 2018 as it is a national day to set aside for the planting of trees. Each year the Hillsdale Garden Club along with the City Forester visit some of our local schools during the Arbor Day celebration teaching first grade students the importance of trees and proper etiquette on planting, watering and maintaining the trees that are presented to the students. According to Diane Miller of the Hillsdale Garden Club, white pines will be presented this year to the first grade students as it is our State tree.

“Properly planted and maintained trees help improve the visual aesthetics of a community, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs and provide wildlife habitat among the many benefit” says Gary Stachowicz, Hillsdale City Forester. Congratulations to all those residents and business owners who help make this happen and take pride in their urban forest resource.

For more information on Tree City USA and Arbor Day please call the City Forester at 517-437-6493.