Elburn named Tree City USA

The village of Elburn has again been qualified as a Tree City USA. Thanks to the support of the village trustees and the work of the village tree board, it is the 16th consecutive year that this honor has been bestowed on the village.

Plan to attend the celebration of Arbor Day and the importance of trees in our everyday lives at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 25, at Prairie Park, off North Third and East North streets in Elburn.

Join village officials, the tree board, the Cub Scouts and others in planting a tree in the park. There will be a short ceremony reading the Arbor Day proclamation, Joyce Kilmer's famous poem about trees, and an explanation of the importance of Arbor Day. A thank-you goes to Strang Inc. of Kaneville for the donation of this year's Arbor Day tree.

The Tree City USA program is a nationally sponsored certification program created and managed by the Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.

The village is committed to preserving the quality of life and the welcoming vistas along neighborhood streets, which are only made possible by the many stately trees that line them. The community also is very supportive of continuing efforts to maintain trees in open space and park areas where families can gather and recreate.

Trees are the defining elements that make these open spaces and parks so enjoyable, and they offer many benefits, not only to the users of the space, but the overall environment.

The Tree City USA designation award is a reflection of commitment of tree preservation, tree education and tree health throughout the village.

There are seven important reasons to plant trees; they conserve energy, they help clean the air, they provide habitat for songbirds, they can increase your home's value, they help keep rivers and streams clean, they fight global warming, and they enhance the aesthetics of the community.