Lewisville achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program's four requirements: forming a tree board or department, creating a tree care ordinance, having an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and having an Arbor Day observance and proclamation, according to the release.
“For the 27th year in a row, the city of Lewisville has reaffirmed our commitment to improving the quality of life our residents experience,” Mayor TJ Gilmore said in the news release. “We are proud to continue to invest in something that provides so much to so many for so little. From sound abatement to reducing heat island impacts to making our green spaces more comfortable to simply improving our air quality and giving people a quiet place to rest, trees and their impact on the community are immeasurable."
Keep Lewisville Beautiful assists the city with the purchase and planting of new trees, providing educational workshops on tree care, and supporting improvements such as the Green Ribbon Projects to enhance medians and public rights-of-way with trees and native plants, according to the release.
The Lewisville Parks and Recreation Department cares for the city's public trees in parks, medians and on facility grounds, according to the release. The department spends $295,000 on average for tree planting, removal, and maintenance with parks staff and contractors.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
"Tree City USA communities benefit from the positive effects that an urban tree canopy has year after year," said Dan Lambe, Arbor Day Foundation chief executive, in the release. "The trees being planted and cared for by Lewisville ensure that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program helps cultivate a sense of stewardship and pride for the trees the community plants and cares for."
More information on the program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.
Urban tree plantings help reduce energy consumption by up to 25%, which can reduce general energy costs and help with the overall cooling of the city, according to the release. Residents benefit from properly placed trees as they increase property values from 7%-20%.
The Tree City USA process and recognition supports the “Green Centerpiece,” “Extending the Green,” and “Sustainability” Big Moves in the Lewisville 2025 vision plan, according to the release. The full plan can be viewed online at www.cityoflewisville.com/lewisville2025.
