Greencastle honored as Tree City USA for 13th year

Assisted by Greencastle Department of Public Works employees Ricky Long (left) and David Bault, young Avery Capps helps plant a tree along Veterans Memorial Highway during a recent Arbor Day observance.

The City of Greencastle has been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA community for its continued commitment to urban forestry.

It marks the 13th year Greencastle has earned the national recognition from the nonprofit organization.

For the third straight year, Greencastle also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating progress in its community forestry program. The Growth Award honors environmental improvement and higher levels of tree care in Tree City USA communities.

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.

Greencastle has met all four standards necessary to become a Tree City USA community.

Tree City USA communities must have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program with annual expenditures of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

"Communities that are honored with a Tree City USA designation and a Growth Award make a strong commitment to planting and caring for trees, and we applaud their efforts," Arbor Day Foundation founder and Chief Executive John Rosenow said.

"We also commend a community's elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing needed care for its trees. They recognize that trees provide numerous environmental, economical and health benefits for the community every day."