Dunwoody has cemented its place as a champion of urban forestry once again, securing its 14th consecutive Tree City USA title, as reported by Dunwoody's official website. The Arbor Day Foundation bestows this recognition on cities that demonstrate a strong commitment to planting, growing, and maintaining trees. With this consistent effort, Dunwoody shows its dedication to ensuring that its tree canopy flourishes, playing a crucial role in the city's sustainability initiatives.
Georgia Arbor Day, which falls on February 20 this year, will be marked by a special tree planting ceremony in Dunwoody at 10 a.m. at Wildcat Park. Dunwoody's Arborist, David Ham expressed the city's pride in receiving this distinction for over a decade, saying, "Dunwoody’s 14th year as a Tree City USA underscores our community’s commitment to sustainability and green spaces," according to a statement on Dunwoody's news release. The city's community development team, along with its residents and contractors, are credited for nurturing a healthy treescape that provides shade, cleaner air, and natural beauty, benefiting the entire community.
The criteria for achieving Tree City USA designation are stringent, requiring cities to have an established tree board or department, an enforced tree care ordinance, a budget of at least $2 per capita for community forestry, and an official Arbor Day event with a proclamation. The Arbor Day Foundation is celebrating its 50th recognition season, and through its partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, the program recognizes urban forestry efforts nationwide.
Dunwoody's urban forestry strides can also be attributed to its collaboration with Trees Atlanta, where, since 2013 they've planted over 2,000 trees with the help of local volunteers, including 80 trees on this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. The city is also part of the Front Yard Tree Planting Program for the fourth consecutive year, offering free shade tree plantings to residents, Michelle Saulnier, Vice President of Programs at the Arbor Day Foundation, commented on the role communities play, "We all have a role to play in shaping our future and tree champions like Dunwoody are leading the way," she said in the Dunwoody news release.
