Decorah named again as a Tree City USA

The Arbor Day Foundation has announced that Decorah was named a Tree City USA Community for its commitment to urban forestry. It is the ninth year that Decorah has earned this national honor from the Arbor Day Foundation, the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees.
 
The Tree City USA project is also supported by the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. In order to qualify, the Decorah Tree Board made application and met the four standards required. Every Tree City USA community must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a community forestry program with annual expenditures of at least $2 per capita, along with an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
 
Mayor Don Arendt signed the Arbor Day proclamation prior to the City Council Meeting on April 15, 2011. The proclamation declares that April 27, 2012 is officially Arbor Day in Decorah. Celebrations will take place through the following weeks, beginning with the Earth Day Celebration at the Water Street Plaza on April 19 and ending with a tree planting day on May 12. Details of the planting day will be announced.
 
The Decorah Tree Board is again promoting Arbor Day and the city forestry program with vouchers for Boulevard Trees this spring. Vouchers are available for trees from Henzler's or Ladybug Landscaping. The Tree Board covers the cost of $35 for up to two trees. Any charge over $35 is the responsibility of the property owner. Citizens over 60 can get two trees worth up to $60 for planting in their boulevards. Vouchers are also online at www.decorahia.org.