Mt. Prospect forester honored with national award

Mount Prospect Village Forester Sandy Clark won the Advancing Arboriculture Award this week from the Tree Care Industry Association.

The award, presented to Clark on Tuesday during the Mount Prospect village board meeting, is given to a governmental agency, institution or green industry partner that has worked to advance legislation, regulation or practices favorable to the tree care industry.

Clark was honored for initiating “the first innovative tree risk management program to increase public safety while still preserving as many older trees as possible. She directed an intensive tree disease/insect control effort, drastically reducing the annual elm loss rate.”

Clark, who manages nearly 25,000 street trees and 42 acres of public grounds, also was on the forefront in the fight against the emerald ash borer.