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For Immediate Release March 19, 2008 Linda Walton, 362-0330 (AMERICAN FORK, Utah) American Fork City has been recognized by The Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA, helping Utah reach its goal of having 50 communities recognized as Tree Cities. During the process of becoming a Tree City USA, American Fork City Council member Heidi Rodeback was named Citizen Forester of the Year by the Utah Community Forest Council and the Utah Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture. Rodeback was given this award at the beginning of the year for her dedication and persistence in seeing that the city passed a tree ordinance last November, enabling the city to become a Tree City USA. "I don’t feel that this is a personal award," Rodeback said. "This is a recognition for the City and the Beautification and Shade Tree committee because after years of talk, we have finally passed an ordinance that will protect our trees and make us a Tree City USA." Tree City USA is a program sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation and the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. This program provides cities with direction, education, technical assistance, public image and financial assistance to help cities maintain and grow healthy trees that will give back to the community. "It has been encouraged that every city across the nation become a tree city," said Scott Zeidler, Wasatch Front Community Forester. "American Fork City’s recognition of becoming a Tree City USA was instrumental in Utah achieving 50 cities." Zeidler said Rodebacks’s efforts to pass the tree ordinance were the key part of American Fork becoming a Tree City because that was the only requirement the city lacked. There are four requirements for a community to be recognized as a Tree City USA. The four requirements are: a city must have tree care ordinance, a tree board or department, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita and the city must have an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. American Fork had tried to become a Tree City USA in the past but the city had never passed a tree ordinance. "We passed a tree ordinance last November that gives power to the Beautification and Shade Tree committee and the city forester to care for the trees and set standards about trees in public places," said Rodeback. Rodeback said that by becoming a Tree City USA, American Fork will receive preferential status in grants from the State Forestry Department, access to personal and educational resources and it gives the city a positive public image that the city takes care of its self. "Becoming a Tree City USA means that we are doing a better job for our trees," Rodeback said. "That is the real reason for doing this." The City will be recognized as an official Tree City USA on Arbor Day later next month. The Arbor Day observance will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 25 at Rotary Park. After the city is recognized as an official Tree City USA, the Beatification and Shade Tree committee will read the Arbor Day proclamation and plant a grove of 5 to 7 trees in the park. Rotary Park is located at 250 S. 200 East, American Fork. Founded in 1985, The Walton Group Inc., a full service public relations and advertising agency, provides special event planning, strategic marketing campaigns, media news writing, graphic design, mailings and speech and position writing. Linda P. Walton, president and fellow of the Public Relations Society of America, has more than 25 years experience. The Walton Group Inc. serves both small and large organizations throughout Utah County including not-for-profit organizations. For more information on The Walton Group, Inc. call 801-362-0330 or visit 725 North 1890 West, Provo, UT 84601. |
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