News Summary
On April 25, 2024, Beverly Hills celebrated Arbor Day at Roxbury Memorial Park, highlighting its commitment to preserving urban trees. Mayor Sharona Nazarian and community members planted a coast live oak tree, reinforcing the city’s reputation as a Tree City USA for 41 consecutive years. With support from CalFire and local residents, the event emphasized community involvement in environmental initiatives. Beverly Hills meets rigorous standards for tree management and continues to prioritize tree care, despite challenges. The city’s commitment not only enhances aesthetics but also offers environmental benefits.
Beverly Hills – The city of Beverly Hills celebrated Arbor Day on April 25, 2024, at Roxbury Memorial Park, marking its commitment to maintaining a vibrant urban forest. During the event, Mayor Sharona Nazarian, alongside Urban Forest Bureau staff and members of the community, participated in the planting of a coast live oak tree, reinforcing the city’s dedication to environmental initiatives.
Representatives from CalFire and local residents also took part in the tree planting activity, showcasing a strong community spirit in supporting Beverly Hills’s greenery. For 41 consecutive years, Beverly Hills has earned the prestigious Tree City USA designation, affirming its ongoing effort to sustain and grow its urban forest. This recognition underscores the city’s adherence to a set of guidelines that promote responsible tree care and environmental stewardship.
To maintain its Tree City USA status, Beverly Hills fulfills several criteria including hosting an annual Arbor Day program, implementing a comprehensive Street Tree Master Plan, ensuring effective tree management practices, and committing to various environmental initiatives. Each of these components plays a role in promoting sustainable urban forestry.
The Arbor Day Foundation outlines four essential standards for a city to gain Tree City USA recognition. These standards are: maintaining a tree board, establishing a community tree ordinance, allocating at least $2 per capita for urban forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day. In 2023, Beverly Hills planted 30 new trees and managed the care of 100 existing trees, committed to an expenditure of $173,180 on tree management. Impressively, the city’s expenditure per capita amounted to $16.34, significantly surpassing the minimum requirement.
Jeff Johnston, Beverly Hills Public Services Director, highlighted the importance of robust tree care practices within the city, which include regular tree pruning and the systematic removal of hazardous trees. This ongoing care is vital for maintaining the health and safety of the urban forest.
As of 2022, the Arbor Day Foundation reported that there were 117 Tree City USA communities in Michigan and a total of 3,559 nationwide, with neighboring cities such as Birmingham and Franklin also earning this recognition. The commitment to tree care and sustainable practices remains a hallmark of community values in Beverly Hills.
Throughout the Arbor Day ceremony, the city underscored the necessity of removing hazardous trees to ensure a healthy urban environment. Despite a recent lawsuit filed in March 2023 by an activist group alleging violations connected to tree removals during sidewalk repairs, Beverly Hills continues to prioritize its green initiatives and place importance on its urban forestry program.
The support for tree planting and maintenance within the community has been consistent since the city’s founding, as noted by Urban Forest Manager Ken Pfalzgraf. The Arbor Day celebration attracted various local participants, including city council members, officials, parents, and children, emphasizing the community’s active involvement in fostering environmental efforts.
The ongoing commitment of Beverly Hills to tree preservation and urban forest management not only enhances the city’s aesthetic appeal but also provides significant environmental benefits. The celebration of Arbor Day serves as a reminder of the crucial role that community participation plays in ensuring the longevity and health of the urban forest.
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Additional Resources
- Beverly Press: Beverly Hills Celebrates Arbor Day
- Oakland County 115: DNR Reports Record Number of Tree City USA Communities
- Business Wire: Arbor Day Foundation Invests in New Technology to Make Trees Grow Faster
- Chronicle Online: Oaks Excel at Supporting the Food Web
- C & G News: Beverly Hills Becomes Tree City USA
- Wikipedia: Arbor Day
- Google Search: Arbor Day
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Arbor Day
- The Oakland Press: One Oakland County Community is Giving Away Trees
- Beverly Hills Courier: Celebrating Beverly Hills’ Long Roots as Tree City USA
