Lakewood Continues Tree City USA Tradition
For the 38th year, the Arbor Day Foundation has named the city of Lakewood a "Tree City USA" to honor the city’s “commitment to effective urban forest management.”
The Arbor Day Foundation — in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service — sponsors the Tree City USA program.
“Trees clean the air, shade our homes, reduce energy costs, beautify our neighborhoods, improve storm water management and increase property values,” said Mayor Michael Summers.
A long-standing Tree City USA award recipient in Northeast Ohio, Lakewood has consistently met the national standards required for the prestigious award.
The four standards of a Tree City USA include:
- A Tree Board or Department: Someone must be legally responsible for the care and management of the community’s trees. This may be a volunteer tree board, a forestry department, or a professional forester or arborist.
- A Tree Care Ordinance: The tree ordinance must designate the establishment of a tree board or forestry department and give this body the responsibility for writing and implementing an annual community forestry work plan.
- A Community Forestry Program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita.
- An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation will take place this year, at a time/date to be determined.
According to the National Arbor Foundation, meeting the four standards for becoming a Tree City USA “tells visitors that here is a community that cares about its environment, and is also an indication to prospective businesses that the quality of life may be better in that community.”
Summers said the city is proud to accept the recognition but added that there is still work ahead.
“A lot of our at-risk trees are in our backyards,” he said. “The city has an opportunity to contribute, but residents and business owners can also help us grow our tree canopy; we’ve all got a role to play.”
Among the city’s goals is to increase the tree canopy by 10 percent, to 38.5 percent by the year 2035.
The city’s forestry department and Lakewood Tree Task Force have developed a comprehensive strategy to improve the tree canopy and add diversity to the variety of species around the city.
In just two years, the organization has already helped plant dozens of trees at Madison and Lakewood parks, presented 19 recommendations to Lakewood City Council supporting tree legislation and worked with the city’s forestry department to plant nearly 600 trees around Lakewood.
The city’s strategy also includes an effort to prepare the city for climate change, add diversity to the urban forest, withstand pest infestations and storms, and add in trees with more fall colors. More trees also means less storm water runoff.
“Everyone benefits when elected officials, volunteers and committed citizens in communities like Lakewood make smart investments in urban forests,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees bring shade to our homes and beauty to our neighborhoods, along with numerous economic, social and environmental benefits.”