McMinnville now a tree city
McMinnville officially became a TREE CITY USA Friday as officials celebrating Arbor Day events were presented with honors by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s Division of Forestry.
Although officials announced the designation a few weeks ago, McMinnville had yet to receive formal recognition. Friday’s events were planned in conjunction with the city’s observance of Arbor Day, which coincided with national Arbor Day events.
State forestry representative Kay Fermann said there are 38 cities in Tennessee that are named TREE CITY USA before she presented the honors to Mayor Royce Davenport, who later said the city has been working toward a notable urban forestry effort for 15 years. The city’s urban forestry department, responsible for many of the city-wide plantings of late, was established about two years ago.
Fermann said there are four standards cities must achieve before recognition is made. Cities must establish a tree board, have a tree ordinance that identifies who takes care of city trees and how, must have a community forestry program with an annual budget of $2 per capita and also have an Arbor Day observance with a mayoral proclamation.
“The purpose of the program is to recognize communities that have a sustainable urban forestry program, meaning they plant trees, maintain them and remove them. They think long term, instead of short term,” Fermann said, noting several benefits of the distinction. “It strengthens community pride, it increases public awareness of trees, it improves city aesthetics and it introduces other communities that can improve your program and shows the nation your city takes pride in its urban forestry program.”
City urban forester Nick Kuhn said he believes McMinnville’s and Warren County’s contributions to the rest of the country are significant.
“McMinnville is the center of where all these trees go throughout the rest of the country. When they’re planting trees for Arbor Day, they’re getting them from us,” he said.
Several trees were available for the taking Friday morning after a donation by McGregor Nursery, and Kuhn planned to visit area schools as well as the library to plant trees and provide education later Friday afternoon.