Findlay Times

55 COMMUNITIES IN NORTHWEST OHIO RECEIVED DISTINCTION

The City of Tiffin was recognized for the 41st year as a Tree City USA today at the 2021 Northwest Ohio awards ceremony hosted by the Villages of Arcadia and Ottawa, The City of Findlay, The University of Findlay, and their Tree Commissions.

The awards were presented to the Tree City and Tree Campus USA communities by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry.  Featured speaker, Tyler Stevenson, Urban Forestry Program Coordinator with the Ohio Division of Forestry, shared happenings in public tree care programs and projections for the future.

The title of Tree City USA was bestowed upon Tiffin for its ongoing efforts to maintain and improve quality of life through a comprehensive tree management program. The program is guided by the Shade Tree Commission and the municipal government.

The Ohio DNR, Division of Forestry’s Urban Forestry Assistance Program acts as a guiding hand in helping a community to become qualified 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 two dollars per capita
• An annual Arbor Day proclamation and public observance.

Ohio boasts the greatest number of Tree Cities in the country and marks Ohio’s 44th consecutive year as the top Tree City USA state, according to the Ohio Division of Forestry. In Northwest Ohio, 52 communities are Tree Cities and two universities are honored as Tree Campus USAs (Ohio Northern University and the University of Findlay.) All were recognized for their achievements at the awards ceremony in at the Hancock County Fairgrounds in Findlay.

For additional information about the Tree City USA program or the Arbor Day Foundation, visit www.arborday.org.

Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz said, “It’s an honor to be recognized for 41 years as Tree City USA. Thank you to Parks and Recreation Director Bryce Kuhn, the staff at our Public Works Department and all the members of the Shade Tree Commission whose efforts make this possible.”

Original source can be found here.