Trustee wants Canfield Twp. to be a Tree City

By Elise Franco

Trustee Randy Brashen cites the township’s new park as a major reason to become a Tree City.

CANFIELD — Trustee Randy Brashen wants bragging rights.

After hearing about awards and grants Canfield city received by being a Tree City, Brashen said he also wants the township to hold the designation.

“I’m jealous of Canfield city,” he said. “I like what being a Tree City stands for ... to be responsible for your tree population, responsible for how you take care of it. It sounded like a valuable thing to get into.”

Brashen said having the designation means the township would be at the top of a long list of Ohio cities and townships hoping to secure grant money.

“It puts us first in line for a certain number of grants above the general public because we’ve proved we’re doing the best we can,” he said.

To become a Tree City, the township must meet four standards, said Lola Lewis, regional urban forester for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

She said the township must form a tree board or committee, create an ordinance or resolution that will outline how the vegetation will be protected and what kind of things the board is responsible for, establish a community forestry program supported by an annual budget of at least $2 per capita, and celebrate Arbor Day with a ceremony or proclamation.

Lewis said many cities and townships may not know they’re already achieving that annual budget.

“Anytime there’s removal of storm debris, groups doing beautification projects, those types of things count,” she said. “Canfield [Township] is in the process of getting ready and working on a new park. That is something they can use to achieve that budget.”

Brashen said the new park lands on Herbert Road are a major reason he felt the township should be involved in this program.

“With construction of the park, the grants would help us do so many of the dreams we have for it,” he said. “The fact that we have a brand-new park makes me feel even stronger about doing the best we can for it and the whole township.”

Lewis said the benefits of the program stretch beyond just earning grant money.

“It gives them recognition that they are doing an outstanding job by working on their urban and community forestry,” she said. “It provides a healthy and safe environment for residents to live in with an end result of working to keep streets clean and working to keep the park clean for everyone to enjoy.”

The 249 Tree Cities in Ohio also get recognition from one another, Lewis said. She said representatives from designated cities and townships gather together yearly for award ceremonies that allow the host city or township to show off the work that’s been done within the community.

“These communities have the opportunity through Tree City events to let everyone know what they are all about,” she said. “They can get the other communities to come there, and they’ll be honored and congratulated.”

Brashen said he would love to see Canfield Township and Canfield city, which has had the designation for 28 years, work together to form the ultimate Tree City.

He said his goal is to have the township designated by the beginning of 2010.

“I’m trying now to go through the steps in the order [Lewis] laid them out,” he said. “Once I find an administrator, the ball is rolling. I would love to start off 2010 already set to roll.”

efranco@vindy.com

Canfield Township trustees want to follow in the footsteps of the neighboring city of Canfield by being designated a Tree City. Trustee Randy Brashen said the township must meet the following criteria to qualify:

Form a Tree Board: A tree board or commission is a group of concerned volunteer citizens charged by ordinance with developing and administering a comprehensive tree-management program. Balanced, broad-based community involvement is encouraged.

Pass a tree-care ordinance: A tree ordinance provides an opportunity to set good policy and back it with the force of law when necessary. Ideally it will provide clear guidance for planting, maintaining and removing trees from streets, parks and other public places.

Form a forestry program with annual budget: Evidence is required that the community has established a community forestry program that is supported by an annual budget of at least $2 per capita. This standard will be met by focusing funding on an annual work plan developed after an inventory is completed and a report is approved by the city council. Such a plan will address species diversity, planting needs, hazardous trees, insect and disease problems and a pattern of regular care such as pruning and watering.

Celebrate Arbor Day: An Arbor Day celebration can be simple and brief or an all-day or all-week observation. It can be a simple tree-planting event or an award ceremony that honors leading tree planters. Another way to develop Arbor Day is to link it with a tree-related festival. Some that are celebrated include dogwood festivals, locust-blossom festivals and cherry-blossom festivals. Arbor Day is always the last Friday in April in Ohio.

Source: arborday.org