March 26, 2007

PASADENA WINS TREE CITY USA AWARDS

Sixty thousand street trees and 25,000 park trees strong, city of Pasadena announces it has won its sixth Tree City USA Growth Award, its seventh Tree City designation, and its fifth Tree Line City USA Utility Award from the National Arbor Day Foundation.

The Tree City award recognizes cities with proven commitments to effective, ongoing community forestry programs that emphasize renewal and improvement. The growth award is for programs that are expanding. The utility award honors Pasadena Water and Power for its tree care standards, for safely and aesthetically pruning trees away from utility lines, and for educating the public about safety when planting trees near utility lines.

With a population of 146,000 people, Pasadena replants about 600 trees annually through its Urban Forestry program in the Public Works Department. The new trees replace those that die due to age and urban effects.

“These awards provide additional incentive for our community to pursue its goals of using trees as a vital component of the character and ambience of the community,” said Mayor Bill Bogaard.

Highlights of Urban Forestry in 2006 included the addition of six acres of oak woodland to be protected as open space, a plan to relocate mature trees on the Ambassador Campus, and continuing education of its arborists in more efficient use of taxpayer resources and improved management of urban green space.

Urban Forestry is responsible for administering proper tree care, planting and removal on city parkways and parks, a street tree database with maintenance information, the city's tree protection ordinance and public outreach.

Well-maintained trees are known to not only improve aesthetics, air quality, and climate, but also help reduce stormwater runoff and crime rates.

For more information call (626) 744-4321.