City of Bloomington honored with Arbor Day Award

Posted on April 27, 2022
A Growth Award is given to a community alongside the Tree City USA recognition for showing environmental improvement and a higher level of tree care. (Photo Courtesy of Pixaby)

By Jake Fogal

BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington has been recognized by The Arbor Day Foundation as a 2021 Tree City USA. The community was also given a Growth Award.

A Growth Award is given to a community alongside the Tree City USA recognition for showing 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: building a team, measuring trees and forests, planning the work, performing the work, and building the community framework.

“The City is excited to receive this award in recognition of the City’s overall vision and hard work to ensure a sustainable and generational urban forest” said Dave Lamb, City Forester and Assistant Superintendent of Parks. Adding, “the City of Bloomington administration, elected, staff and residents place a high value on our trees.  Bloomington is very proud of its urban forest and this recognition from the Tree City USA (TCU) committee.”

Mike Brunk, of the Illinois Urban and Community Forestry, praised Bloomington’s commitment saying, “Bloomington is now part of a team of Illinois communities making a national statement.”

The City of Bloomington will hold an Arbor Day Celebration, sponsored by the City’s Beautification Committee, on Friday at Trinity Lutheran School on 1102 W. Hamilton beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Jake Fogal can be reached at [email protected].

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