Mayor Nickels recently signed a proclamation naming April 24, 2020 as Arbor Day in the City of Manitowoc. In celebration of Arbor Day, two Corinthian Linden trees donated by the Manitowoc Chapter of the Izaak Walton League were planted (one at Union Park and one near the intersection of N 6th Street and Maritime Drive). The Kiwanis Club of Manitowoc also donated a red oak tree which was planted at Washington Park.
In conjunction with Arbor Day, the City of Manitowoc recently received its 2019 Tree City USA award. This is the thirty-seventh year in a row that the City of Manitowoc has been named a Tree City USA community. The award honors the city’s commitment to effective urban forest management. The National Arbor Day Foundation sponsors the Tree City USA program in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. To receive this recognition the City of Manitowoc had to meet the four criteria: 1) have an active tree board; 2) have a tree care ordinance; 3) have an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita; and 4) have an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. In addition, the City of Manitowoc also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating an environmental improvement and a higher level of tree care.
Trees provide multiple benefits to a community when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits. Anyone interested in planting or removing a tree in the terrace area (the area between the sidewalk and the street) must complete a permit. Go to www.manitowoc.org and click on Departments, then Urban Forestry for more information.
Forestry questions can be directed to the City of Manitowoc Parks Division at 920-686-3580 or forestry@manitowoc.org.