The City Celebrates a 30 Year Commitment to a Strong Tree Canopy
Rochester Hills Named Tree City USA
In addition to Arbor Day, the City of Rochester Hills is celebrating 30 years of being committed to a vibrant tree canopy through the Tree City USA program. As an active member of the program, the city has a strong focus on making sure the community is engaged in natural resources and building a larger tree canopy year after year.
“Our tree system is a key component of maintaining our air quality, water resources, health, and well-being,” states Mayor Bryan K. Barnett. “We are proud to be recognized as a leader in green infrastructure and look forward to continuing to strengthen our natural resources.”
The City’s Forestry Division is responsible for maintaining more than 19,000 trees along approximately 367 miles of city-maintained streets, pathways and trailways. To continually build upon the community’s canopy, up to 250 free trees are available for residents every year for planting within the public right-of-way. The trees are planted and maintained for one year by the city’s tree planting contractor. The city’s budget for this initiative comes from the Tree Fund.
“Tree City USA communities see the positive effects of an urban forest firsthand,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The trees being planted and cared for by Rochester Hills are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program brings residents together and creates a sense of civic pride, whether it’s through volunteer engagement or public education.”
While the city’s Arbor Day in-person gathering has been postponed, there are still a number of ways to celebrate at home. Families are encouraged to read a book about trees together, share a picture of a tree in your yard online, or enjoy the many trees at our local parks.
About the Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation is a million member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.
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Yet the city continuously allows developers to raze multiple hundreds of trees every single year without thought or consequence. Seems the city’s “commitment to trees” takes a backseat to cold hard cash. The overdevelopment of this area will ultimately lead to its demise. Very unfortunate.
Really? Then why do you keep building monstrosity mansions and more empty strip malls on every square inch of Green Space? John R Used to Be beautifully Green in the summer and gorgeous with the snow on the tree is covering the road. Now it’s just more neighborhoods