Community Corner
Wakefield Named "Tree City USA" For 10th Year Running
Wakefield has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation every year for the last decade.
Wakefield has been recognized as a "Tree City USA" by the Arbor Day Foundation again this year - making 2011 the 10th year in a row the town has won the designation.
"Even though we continue to take down more trees than we plant, we're making a strong effort to provide a healthy tree environment in the community," said Rick Stinson, director of the Department of Public Works. "Dennis [Fazioa] does an outstanding job of making sure we have a healty tree population and replacing what we can with our finances, and donations."
There are four basic requirements to become a Tree City USA, according to the Arbor Day Foundation:
Find out what's happening in Wakefieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
-
A Tree Board or Department - This may be a professional forester or arborist, an entire forestry department, or a volunteer tree board.
-
A Tree Care Ordinance - Provides clear guidance for planting, maintaining and removing trees from streets, parks and other public places
Find out what's happening in Wakefieldfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
A Community Forestry Program With an Annual Budget of at Least $2 Per Capita - A plan should be in place that addresses species diversity, planting needs, hazardous trees, insect and disease problems and a pattern of regular care such as pruning and watering.
An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation - An Arbor Day celebration can be simple and brief or an all-day or all-week observation. It can be a simple tree planting event or an award ceremony that honors leading tree planters.
Board of Selectmen Chairman Patrick Glynn thanked the DPW for a "fantastic" job both in regards to maintaining and preserving trees, but also in other areas.
"With budgets being what they are, you always get us the most for our money wehther it's our lawn care or our tree work or the maintenance you do around town," he said.
The Tree City USA banner will hang over Colonel Connolly Park for the next week.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
