Shorewood again named Tree City USA
By Clare Walters For The Herald-News April 25, 2012 8:04AM
Updated: May 28, 2012 8:45AM
SHOREWOOD — Shorewood will celebrate this year’s Arbor Day with a little extra pride.
For the fourth year in a row, the village has been named a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. To earn the designation, the village must have a tree board, a tree-care ordinance, a community forestry program with expenditures of $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
“We all benefit when communities like Shorewood place a high priority on planting and caring for trees, one of our nation’s most beautiful resources,” said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation.
The village board issued the required proclamation urging residents to celebrate Arbor Day during Tuesday’s meeting. Arbor Day is Friday.
The village’s fifth annual Arbor Day celebration will include a drawing to give away five trees, which will be delivered to residents’ homes by Public Works.
Aside from observing Arbor Day, residents with a green thumb could opt to participate in the village’s Community Garden.
Trustee Gary Fitzgerald said there are still spots available in the garden, which is on Siel Road between Four Seasons Park and the Troy Township Center. The garden is designed to allow those who don’t have a yard or those who simply enjoy gardening an opportunity to garden and do so in collaboration with other residents. Spots are 10-by-10 feet and can be planted beginning May 1.
The village in partnership with Troy Township also will host a Gardeners’ Open House 6-8 p.m. May 4 in the Township Community Room. The event is free to all registered community gardeners and $5 to the public.
For more information about Arbor Day, the Community Garden or the Gardeners’ Open House, visit the village website at www.vil.shorewood.il.us.
