Flossmoor Again Named A Tree City USA By Arbor Day Foundation

FLOSSMOOR, IL — In April, the Village of Flossmoor was named a 2024 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to plant, grow and maintain trees to benefit its community. For 2024, the Village also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for going above and beyond the four standards required for the award.

Flossmoor achieved Tree City USA recognition by upholding the program’s four core standards:

1. Maintaining a tree board or department
2. Having a community tree-care ordinance
3. Dedicating an annual urban forestry budget of at least $2/capita
4. Participating in an Arbor Day celebration

“We all have a role to play in shaping our future and tree champions such as Flossmoor are leading the way,” said Michelle Saulnier, Vice President of Programs at the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees are critical infrastructure, building resiliency and fostering good health in our nation’s cities. We’re proud Flossmoor is among the Arbor Day Foundation’s growing network of communities that are dedicated to creating positive impact through trees.”

In cities and suburban neighborhoods, trees are proven to help mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and boost mental and physical health. When the right trees are planted in the right places, Saulnier says they can also reduce traffic noise, increase property values and lower energy costs for homeowners.

According to Dave Becker, the Village’s Forestry Maintenance Technician, for many years, Flossmoor has been promoting the growth and care of trees, plus it has actively encouraged tree plantings. In 2024, the Flossmoor Public Works Department and Green Commission worked together with community volunteers to plant 100 trees in parkways and parks to celebrate Flossmoor’s 100th birthday. In addition, the Village distributed free tree saplings at many events throughout the year.

The first OAKtoberfest event was held in September 2024, an event that included a guided tree walk to explore Flossmoor’s diverse tree canopy, as well as educational demonstrations and exhibitors in support of the environment.

“The trees added each year to our Village will provide many decades of environmental benefits and health benefits for the greater community,” said Becker.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. The Arbor Day Foundation is a global non-profit organization with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. More information about the program is available at arborday.org.

For more information about Flossmoor, please visit www.Flossmoor.org.