Troy, Ohio - USA - TBC Photo Gallery

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Posted April 23, 2007
left to right: Mayor Michael Beamish, Stan Phillips (Board of Park Commissioners), Jeremy Drake (Forrester, Park Dept.), Judy Fiessinger (Beautification Committee), Tim Mercer (Supt., Park Dept.)	City of Troy Awarded Tree City USA
On April 20, 2007, the National Arbor Day Foundation recognized 36 Southwest Ohio cities and villages as Tree City USA communities. Among them was Troy which received the award for the 21st consecutive year. Created in 1976, the Tree City USA award originates from the National Arbor Day Foundation, an organization dedicated to tree planting, conservation and the promotion of community forestry. The Village of Waynesville hosted the awards event at the Der Dutchman restaurant. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry presented the awards to the Tree City USA communities. The title of "Tree City USA" was bestowed upon each community for it's ongoing efforts to maintain and improve the quality of life through a concentrated street tree management program. During 2006, the 36 communities planted 5,826 balled and burlapped trees, pruned 19,117 trees, and removed 2,548 dead, dying, or disease trees. Including the donation of 13,242 hours of volunteer time, these and other urban forestry activities were valued at more than $4 million. The nationally recognized Tree City USA award is presented annually to those communities that have met maintenance standards for trees growing along their streets and in their parks. The four standards are: 1) having a designated tree board, forestry professional or city department responsible for the care of trees in the community 2) passing a tree care ordinance 3) having an active forestry program in place with an annual budget of at least 2 dollars per capita 4) proclaiming and hosting an Arbor Day celebration. Ohio currently boasts the greatest number of Tree Cities in the country with a grand total of 249. The event in Waynesville was one of six regional Tree City USA celebrations in Ohio during the month of April.