Town of Owasco Named Tree City USA by Arbor Day Foundation

Press Release  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  3 February 2020

For more information, contact: Ed Wagner, Town Supervisor 315-253-9021

Arbor Day Foundation Names Town of Owasco Tree City USA

 The Town of Owasco, NY was named a 2019 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective community forest management.  

It is the 1st year Owasco has earned this national honor from the Arbor Day Foundation, the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees.  “2019 has been a very important year for us, and we are very excited to earn the recognition of the National Arbor Day Foundation”, said Ed Wagner, Owasco Town Supervisor, adding that “our community forestry activities are the fundamental part of our commitment to our citizens and our environment.” 

 The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.  Owasco achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: 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. 

Trees are assets to a community when properly planted and maintained.  They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits. 

ABOUT THE ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION:  The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees.

Town Supervisor Ed Wagner and Walt Aikman Natural Resource Consultant for the Town of Owasco will travel to Albany on March 19th to accept the award at the Fourteenth Annual Tree City/Line/Campus U.S.A. Recognition Ceremony.

More information is available at arborday.org