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Fayetteville was named a 2018 Tree City USA community in honor of its continued commitment to effective urban forest management.
It’s the 24th year the city has received the designation through the program, which is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the US Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
A community gains the designation by meeting or exceeding requirements in four categories: existence of a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
Fayetteville regularly participates in events throughout the year promoting new tree planting and maintaining the health of the existing tree canopy.
Two upcoming events include:
Now through April 27: Bradford Bounty incentive. Residents who remove a Bradford pear tree on their property can receive a free native tree as a replacement while supplies last. The program is limited to one tree per household.
Saturday, April 27: Invasive plant species removal at Clarence Craft Park. The event is hosted by the city’s Urban Forestry Advisory Board
The city’s Urban Forestry department plans to partner with several organizations to plant more trees this year in line with Arbor Day Foundation’s Time for Trees initiative. Recently, the city worked with Girl Scout Troop 5327 to give away 500 pine tree saplings. Another recent event with the Illinois River Watershed Partnership included volunteers who planted 275 native trees and shrubs along Owl Creek.
