Wikimedia Commons/Patrick Joubert
Wikimedia Commons/Patrick Joubert
The Arbor Day Foundation and Iowa Department of Natural Resources has named Ames a Tree City USA for the 38th consecutive year on April 8.
This distinction is awarded to cities that have a dedication to caring for and maintaining trees.
“It shows that the community is interested in taking care of that treescape and all the benefits that trees provide,” Paul Tauke, Ames city forester, told Ames Tribune. “You know, anything that a community can do to identify that it’s well maintained, that people in the community care about the tree resource and all the resources, I think that just becomes one more thing you can point to if you’re promoting the city.”
The city released statistics about the trees. According to a press release, it has between 700 to 800 acres of publicly owned woodland, 3,500 trees in parks, and 11,000 right-of-way trees.
Volunteers planted more than 70 trees in the fall and spring.
The city also organizes a maintenance program for the trees. This includes pruning them once every five years to help them be healthier and make the area safer.
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