Muncie Earns Mark of Distinction and Receives Award From Arbor Day Foundation

Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour launched his project "1000 trees in 1000 days" at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site in Heekin Park on Friday, March 19th where this evergreen tree planting took place. Photo by Mike RhodesMuncie Mayor Dan Ridenour launched his project "1000 trees in 1000 days" at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site in Heekin Park on Friday, March 19th where this evergreen tree planting took place. Photo by Mike Rhodes

By The Arbor Day Foundation—

Small percentage of Tree City USA participants ultimately earn Growth Award Honor due to a continued dedication towards building a sustainable community

LINCOLN, Nebraska – Muncie has received a Tree City USA Growth Award by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management.

A Growth Award is bestowed to a community alongside their Tree City USA recognition for demonstrating environmental improvement and a higher level of tree care. The Growth Award recognizes major milestones and annual activities in five categories on a point based system to build sustainable community forestry programs over the long term such as: building a team, measuring trees and forests, planning the work, performing the work, and building the community framework.

“Tree City USA communities can experience the positive effects that an urban tree canopy has year after year,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The trees being planted and cared for by Muncie are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life.  Additionally, participation in this program helps cultivate a sense of stewardship and pride for the trees the community plants and cares for.”

With the additional recognition of a Growth Award, Muncie has demonstrated their expediency towards building a framework for sustainable urban forest management. Urban tree plantings help reduce energy consumption by up to 25%, which will reduce general energy costs and help with the overall cooling of the city as well. In addition, members of the community benefit from properly placed trees as they increase property values from 7-20%. Trees also positively affect the local ecosystem by helping to clean water and create animal habitats to encourage biodiversity.

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

 

 

 

 

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters, and valued partners. Singe 1972, almost 500 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities, and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to lead toward a world where trees are used to solve issues critical to survival.

As one of the world’s largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners, and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing, and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.