BROOKLINE –The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) presented the 2013 Tree City USA Awards to 76 Massachusetts communities and the Tree Line USA award to National Grid, a long and faithful supporter of the DCR Urban Forestry program.
“DCR is proud of the cities and towns across the Commonwealth that have devoted so many resources to planting and caring for their trees,” said DCR Commissioner Ed Lambert, who presented the awards. “It is important to continue this work and honor arborists statewide following the damage done to trees during the unusual weather events of the past two years.”
The awards are sponsored by the National Arbor Day foundation to honor communities committed to urban forestry. To receive designation as an official Tree City, municipalities must meet four criteria: they must establish a department devoted to tree care, spend at least $2 per capita per year on urban forestry, enforce laws protecting public trees, and host an Arbor Day celebration. The awards recognizes communities that meet certain baseline requirements for urban and community forestry programs.
Massachusetts has the largest number of participating Tree City USA communities in New England, and has participated in the Tree City USA Program for the past 30 years. The program is offered by the National Arbor Day Foundation, but it is administered in each state by designated environmental agencies. The program recognizes communities that meet certain baseline requirements for urban and community forestry programs.
Westfield has received an annual Tree City Award for the past 9 years.
Growth Awards, recognizing environmental improvement and encouraging higher levels of tree care, were awarded Amherst, Cambridge, Fall River, Greenfield, Medford, Springfield, and Worcester. Twenty-fifth Year Tree City USA Benchmark Awards were presented to Hingham, Manchester-by-the-Sea, West Springfield. Other Benchmark Awards were presented to Chicopee (20 years); Brockton, Leominster, Lowell, Medford, Orleans (15 years); Weston (10 years); and, Mattapoisett, Walpole, Warren (5 years).
National Grid received the 2013 Tree Line USA Award for meeting standards in quality tree care, ongoing worker training, and tree-planting and educational programs. Tree Line USA awards recognize public and private utilities across the nation demonstrating practices to protect and enhance urban forests. The Tree Campus USA award winner UMass Lowell is recognized for its dedication to the care and protection of its trees.
The Tree City USA and Tree Line USA awards programs are sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, and are administered by DCR’s Urban and Community Forestry Program. NSTAR cosponsored today’s event.
