Mayor’s Update 06.16.22

Delran Township has once again demonstrated its commitment to the environment by receiving the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA designation. Over the past years, the Delran Green team, Council and I have worked towards legislation and efforts that will further increase public awareness of the many social, economical, and environmental benefits green space provides.

The Delran Green Team is the real hero on this one. They started with giving out seedlings; and now because of all their hard work with Council we have a new tree ordinance, a tree bank program, and have started talking about planting memorial trees around town.

Started by the Arbor Day Foundation, Tree City USA has been greening up cities and towns across America since 1976 with a nationwide movement that allows communities to manage and expand their public trees. Once a municipality meets certain criteria, they are allowed to apply for Tree City USA designation, for which they receive signage and a flag to display in their town.

It’s not just about the positive recognition we get as a Tree City, it’s about all the real world effects of being proactive about the environment. The benefits of the Green Team’s efforts are substantial for our residents; trees reduce costs for energy, storm water management, even erosion control. They increase property values, increase community pride and are incredibly beneficial to mental and emotional health.

Tree City USA was designed by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters to encourage better care of community forests. More than 163 million Americans currently live in Tree City USA communities across all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington D.C. More than 950, 000 trees have been planted because of the initiative.

Once again, I would like to congratulate the Delran Green Team on making this happen for our town.