FOR RELEASE: April 13, 2010

Troy Named Tree City for 20^th Year

(TROY, MI) – Troy has once again been named a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to urban forestry.

It is the twentieth year that the community has received this national recognition.

Troy has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community; having a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

“We are very proud to receive this recognition,” Ron Hynd, the Troy Parks and Recreation Landscape Analyst, said. “This community most certainly benefits from the focus on our parks, the Nature Center, and the beautiful landscaping of our neighborhoods. This concerted effort to take advantage of the numerous environmental, economical and health benefits that trees provide is part of what makes Troy such a great community in which to live, work, learn and play.”

Communities that receive Tree City USA recognition not only have taken time to meet the four standards, they recognize that:

· Trees promote healthier communities. Leaves filter the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles.

· Trees moderate climate, conserve water and provide habitat for wildlife.

· Trees in urban areas reduce the heat island effect caused by pavement and buildings.

· Properly placed trees can increase property values, and buildings in wooded areas rent more quickly and tenants stay longer.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, environmental, and educational organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information about Tree City USA can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA

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