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For the past 25 years, the city of
Lincoln has officially been designated by the Arbor Day Foundation
as a Tree City USA. As part of the designation, each Arbor Day the
city hosts an official Arbor Day Tree Planting Ceremony. That
ceremony was held on Friday, April 24th at Melrose Park in Lincoln.
The trees planted at the park this year included two Armstrong Gold
Maple and one White Oak.
As part of its Tree City USA designation, the city must maintain a
forestry department. That department is tucked inside the City
Streets and Alleys department and overseen by City Street
Superintendent Walt Landers.
On Friday seven street department
employees represented the forestry department with Landers on hand
to deliver the traditional speech regarding the planting of trees in
Lincoln.
Landers recited the dialogue “We
are here today to dedicate these trees, celebrate Arbor Day and
demonstrate the City of Lincoln’s commitment to the Tree City USA
program for the last 25 years.”
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Landers went on to
describe the trees being planted then concluded, “The Lincoln
Street Department staff oversees forestry operations in the City
of Lincoln and participates in the Tree City USA Program because
it provides direction, assistance and recognition for our
community. It also helps us manage a healthy, sustainable
forestry program so we can all enjoy the benefits a healthy
urban forest provides our community and a beautiful landscape
for the residents we serve.”
The city of Lincoln maintains all trees on city property and
right of ways, assuring the health and well-being of all trees.
Those that are found to be deteriorating or having potential for
disease are felled and new trees are placed in their stead.
Landers said that there were several trees that had to be
removed from Melrose Park because they were old, damaged, and at
risk of being a hazard to the community. These three trees are
part of the replacement program for the park. He added that
Postville Park also had trees that had to be removed for the
same reasons.
The city removes and replants trees within the city throughout
the year, helping to maintain a lush green landscape in our
neighborhoods.
[Nila Smith]
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