Homer Glen Named A 2018 Tree City USA

HOMER GLEN, IL — Homer Glen has been named a 2018 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. The village said it 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 and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

"Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand," Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation, said in a release. "Additionally, recognition brings residents together and creates a sense of community pride, whether it's through volunteer engagement or public education."

Homer Glen received the recognition in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. According to the village, trees provide multiple benefits to a community when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal of neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits.