The City of Noblesville was named a 2019 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. This is the 29th consecutive year Noblesville has earned this national distinction.
“Being a Tree City USA member for almost three decades shows the importance that the city and its citizens have for our environment and its sustainability year after year,” said Noblesville Mayor John Ditslear. “I also want to thank the Noblesville Tree Board for its overall care of city street trees and the educational outlet and projects it provides our residents.”
The Tree City USA program started in 1979. The only cities in Indiana that have participated longer than Noblesville are Indianapolis and Angola; each is celebrating 30 years in 2019. Noblesville received 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.
As the city celebrated its Tree City status, the Noblesville Tree Board planted a Red Oak Tree at Federal Hill Commons in honor of Ditslear’s years of dedication and service to the city.
“Transcending times and cultures, the oak has symbolized strength and endurance and was officially declared as the United States’ National Tree in 2004,” Noblesville Urban Forester Vince Baker said. “Mayor Ditslear has shown similar strength and endurance leading Noblesville into the future throughout his four terms.”
The tree board will be at the Noblesville Farmer’s Market on Saturday, May 4 to pass out free Black Gum Tree saplings and other goodies and tree information. Earlier this month, the Noblesville Tree Board planted 129 trees in the median of a two-mile stretch of Hazel Dell Road south of State Road 32 to Noble Crossing Elementary School.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the United States Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. For more information about the program, visit arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.
About the Noblesville Tree Board
The Noblesville Tree Board is responsible for the development of a master plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, removal and disposition of street trees in the City of Noblesville. The board is comprised of the city urban forester, a common council member liaison and five members of the community. The board coordinates its efforts with related projects of such groups as the Park Board, Plan Commission and the Street Department.