[LUFKIN, TX – July 18, 2018] Angelina Beautiful/Clean (AB/C) and the Texas A&M Forest Service was honored to present the City of Lufkin recognition for celebrating 28 years as a Tree City USA award recipient. Mayor, Bob Brown, and city council members accepted the commemoration at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. The Arbor Day Foundation honors cities that have a commitment towards effective urban forest management by meeting four core requirements: an active tree board/department, a tree-care ordinance, and annual community forestry budget and an Arbor Day observance.
More than 135,000,000 people living in more than 3,400 towns and cities benefit from cleaner air, shade, lower energy costs, and storm water control through the vital urban forest management framework provided by the Tree City USA community improvement program. As the weather starts to warm up, studies indicate that as few as three additional trees planted around each building in the United States could save $2 billion annually in energy costs.
“Everyone benefits when elected officials, volunteers and committed citizens in communities like Lufkin make smart investments in urban forests,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees bring shade to our homes and beauty to our neighborhoods, along with numerous economic, social and environmental benefits. We congratulate Lufkin on its 28 years of commitment to this program.”
Trees are assets to a community when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home and business cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits.
Per Jennifer La Corte, AB/C Executive Director, “This year there are only 85 cities in all of Texas that receive this great honor of being named a Tree City USA. There are only 10 other cities that have had this distinction for more than 28 years. Lufkin’s forestry heritage stands tall next to the likes of places like New Braunfels and Fort Worth. This award represents more than just care of trees in our community, it extends to the care that is invested into our community to keep it a beautiful place to live, work, and play.”
