The City of Bowling Green was recently recognized as a Tree City USA during the Northwest Ohio awards ceremony. This year marks the 45th occasion Bowling Green has been honored with this nationally recognized award. Additionally, the city received the Tree City USA Growth Award for the 31st time, acknowledging its continuous efforts in fostering higher standards of tree care and environmental improvement.
The city, along with the Bowling Green Tree Commission, was honored to host this year’s Tree City awards ceremony at the Veterans Building overlooking City Park.
The awards were presented to the Tree City USA and Tree Campus communities by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry. Guest presenter, Scott Dirks, Senior Water Resources Engineer with GEl, shared insight into optimizing climate resiliency and stormwater management with nature-based solutions.
The title of Tree City USA was bestowed upon Bowling Green for its ongoing efforts to maintain and improve quality of life through a comprehensive tree management program. The program is guided by the Tree Commission and the municipal government. The additional honor of a Growth Award signifies Bowling Green’s commitment to establishing a sustainable urban forest management framework.
The Ohio DNR, Division of Forestry’s Urban Forestry Assistance Program acts as a guiding hand in helping a community be recognized as a Tree City USA. The Regional Urban Forester recommends a community to the Arbor Day Foundation for this standing. To achieve the title and the honors, a community must meet four standards:
- A tree ordinance
- An active tree commission or forestry department
- A comprehensive urban forestry program supported by a minimum of $2 per capita
- An annual Arbor Day proclamation and public observance.
Ohio boasts the greatest number of Tree Cities in the country and this marks Ohio’s 47th consecutive year as the top Tree City USA state, according to the Ohio Division of Forestry. Fifty Northwest Ohio communities are Tree Cities and five universities are honored as Tree Campuses. All were recognized for their achievements at the awards ceremony in Bowling Green.
For additional information about the Tree City USA program or the Arbor Day Foundation, visit www.arborday.org.
