Oak Park Earns 26th consecutive Tree City USA community recognition award

The Village of Oak Park has been named a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation for the 26th year in a row.

Urban Forestry Superintendent Jim Semelka said that even after so many consecutive Tree City USA awards, he is always excited with the honor because it acknowledges the skill and commitment of his staff to providing the highest quality of care for the more than 18,000 trees on parkways throughout the Village.

“The Tree City USA award is recognition of Oak Park's commitment to the best management practices, principles and procedures that are so important to keeping the community safe, while also maintaining the health of our urban forest health,” he said. "It is always an honor to receive this award."

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.

"We commend Oak Park's elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing vital care of its urban forest," John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation, said in a written statement announcing the award. "Trees provide numerous environmental, economical and health benefits to millions of people each day, and we applaud communities that make planting and caring for trees a top priority."

For more in formation on the Village's forestry programs, call 708.358.5700 or e-mail publicworks@oak-park.us. More information on Tree City USA is posted at www.arborday.org/treecityusa.