Gainesville named Tree City for 30th straight year

Gainesville receives the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City distinction for the 30th straight year.

The ceremony was held on Friday at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens Gainesville where Doug Andrews, Chief Ranger Senior of the Georgia Forestry Commission presented the Tree City Award, as well as the Growth Award, to Gainesville City Councilman George Wangemann.

"I think it's a great honor to be considered a Tree City," Wangemann said. "It means we place a great value on trees and it's rather obvious that people do place a greater value on trees."

There are four criteria necessary to be named a Tree City. A city needs a tree board, a tree ordinance, the reading of a proclamation and to plant a tree each year. This year's tree will be planted at Gainesville High School within the next couple weeks.

"Gainesville does such a great job having been named a Tree City for 30 years in a row," said Mildred Fockele, director of the Atlanta Botanical Garden Gainesville. "What a remarkable achievement, and so we're just glad we can be part of those efforts."

Road signs that will be on display in Gainesville acknowledging the Tree City USA distinction.

Tree seedlings being handed out to guests after the Tree City award ceremony at the Atlanta Botanical Garden Gainesville.

Art from area elementary school children on display for the Tree City award ceremony at the Atlanta Botanical Garden Gainesville.

Gainesville City Councilman George Wangemann gives the Arbor Day proclamation at the Atlanta Botanical Garden Gainesville on Friday.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2017/2/503345