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Allentown Earns 39th Tree City USA Designation

08/13/2018
Allentown Earns 39th Tree City USA Designation

The non-profit Arbor Day Foundation is recognizing Allentown as a Tree City USA for the 39th year!

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. The city received written notification of the award last week.

There are four standards to achieve Tree City USA recognition. The municipality must have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program with annual expenditures of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

“Allentown is proud of its long tradition of meeting the criteria to be recognized as a Tree USA community,” said Mayor Ray O’Connell. “Trees bring clean air, clean water, shade and beauty to the neighborhood.”

The city planted more than 200 trees last year.

According to the Foundation, “Properly placed trees can increase property values from 7–20%. Buildings in wooded areas rent more quickly, and tenants stay longer.”

The Foundation is recognizing 111 Pennsylvania municipalities this year. Only five have been recognized more times than Allentown, including Philadelphia and Lancaster.

“Everyone benefits when elected officials, volunteers and committed citizens in communities like Allentown make smart investments in urban forests,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees bring shade and beauty to our neighborhoods, along with numerous economic, social and environmental benefits.”

More than 3,400 cities and towns across the country have been recognized as a Tree City USA community.

More information on the program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.

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