Algonquin named Tree City USA for 23rd year

The Arbor Day Foundation recently announced that the Village of Algonquin is again named a Tree City USA community for its commitment to effective forest management.

This is the 23rd year in which Algonquin has received this designation.

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

"We are extremely proud of this great honor that the Village of Algonquin has earned," said Village President John Schmitt. "Much credit goes to our team of arborists who have worked tirelessly to recover from the emerald ash borer and who continue to work tirelessly maintaining our urban forest consisting of over 20,000 municipal trees."

Algonquin has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community.

Tree City USA communities must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a community forestry program with annual expenditures of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

Tree City USA communities also enjoy a number of benefits, including cleaner air, improved storm water management, energy savings, increased property values, and growth of commercial activity.

Algonquin works to promote the role of trees in the community in hopes of preserving a healthy environment and improving the quality of life for all.

More information about Tree City USA can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.

Further information about the Village of Algonquin's urban forestry program is available online at www.algonquin.org/publicworks.