Katie Wiswall and David Bullion with the Alabama Forestry Commission present Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks with a Tree City USA flag
ATHENS-On June 28, 2021, the City of Athens, Ala., was honored as a 2020 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in recognition of the City’s commitment to effective urban forest management. This is the sixth year Athens has earned the recognition. Athens Mayor Ronnie Marks accepted the City’s certification and Tree City USA flag during the Athens City Council meeting.
“Quality of life attributes are important to Athens, and participating in this program enhances that for our community,” Marks said.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. Athens achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements:
- A tree board or department;
- A tree-care ordinance;
- An annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita;
- An Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
Trees are assets to a community when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among other benefits.
More information on the Tree City USA program is available at the Arbor Day website (https://www.arborday.org/), from your local Alabama Forestry Commission personnel, or from the Alabama Forestry Commission’s Partnership Coordinator, Katie Wiswall at katie.wiswall@forestry.alabama.gov.
