SIDNEY — The City of Sidney was named a 2015 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. The announcement, made in advance of the April 29 celebration of Arbor Day, honors the city’s commitment to effective urban forest management. This marks the 26th consecutive year that Sidney has received this honor.
The Tree City USA program was begun in 1976. The program celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Started by the Arbor Day Foundation, the program partners with the United States Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
To achieve Tree City USA recognition, cities must meet the program’s four requirements. Those requirements include: an active tree board; a tree-care ordinance; an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per resident; and, an Arbor Day observance and Mayor’s proclamation.
Sidney’s five-member Tree Board was created by the City Council in April, 1989 to develop, annually update, and administer a written plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, replanting, removal, or disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, along streets, and in other public areas. The current members include Ann Asher, Michael Jannides, Ross Moore, Warren Koogler and Anne Sharp.
“Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand,” Arbor Day Foundation President Dan Lambe stated. “Additionally, recognition brings residents together and creates a sense of community pride, both through volunteer engagement and public education.”
“Sidney is one of more than 3,400 cities that have obtained Tree City USA status,” Sidney Mayor Mike Barhorst stated, “and 242 of those cities and villages are located in Ohio. We are pleased to be one of those communities.”
“I recently attended an executive committee meeting of the Association of Ohio Mayors. One of my fellow executive committee members and mayor of a much larger city stated that he always thinks of Sidney’s beautiful tree-lined streets when he thinks of Sidney.”
“Trees provide multiple benefits to our community when they are properly planted and maintained,” Joyce Reier stated. “They help to improve the visual appeal of neighborhoods, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants, provide habitat for wildlife, and a host of other benefits.” Reier is an ISA Certified Arborist and an employee of the City of Sidney.
Ann Asher, Sidney’s longest serving member of the Tree Board and current chair, was also enthusiastic about trees. “Trees on your property provide more than beauty — they increase the value of your home from 7 to 19 percent,” Asher stated. “New homeowners should work on landscaping early because it takes 5 to 7 years for plants to mature, and certainly much longer for trees.”
“Homeowners should seek advice from a good professional landscaper who develops a plan for the site before planting,” Asher stated. “This can avoid planting the wrong tree or plant in the wrong location, resulting in overgrown plants that cover the windows of a house or trees with roots that buckle a driveway or sidewalk.”
“Following the tradition of recent years, the City of Sidney will plant a tree on the campus of one of the local schools on Arbor Day,” Street Superintendent Brian Green, Sidney’s liaison with the Tree Board stated. “This year, Arbor Day will be celebrated at Sidney Middle School, with the tree planting scheduled for 9 a.m. on April 29. I invite the public to join the Mayor, the members of the Tree Board, the students and their teachers to join in planting the tree this year.”
The Arbor Day Foundation is a million member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. Additional information is available online (arborday.org).
