Lakeside was recognized as a Tree City USA on April 17, 2024, in the Northwest Ohio Awards Ceremony hosted by the City of Defiance and the Defiance Tree Commissions.
This is the 13th time our community has been honored with this nationally recognized award.
Lakeside also received its second Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating environmental improvement and an outstanding level of tree care. The specific activities recognized were a tree planting workshop, the identification and publication of a pamphlet listing trees older than Lakeside, and the ceremonial planting of two Heritage Oaks, all as a part of Lakeside’s 150th Celebration.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
The awards were presented to the Tree City and Tree Campus USA communities by Stephanie Miller, Regional Urban Forester, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry.
The title of Tree City USA was bestowed upon our community for its ongoing efforts to maintain and improve the quality of life through a comprehensive tree management program. The program is guided by the Lakeside Tree Advisory Committee and the Lakeside staff.
The Ohio DNR, Division of Forestry’s Urban Forestry Assistance Program acts as a guiding hand in helping a community to become qualified as a Tree City USA. The Regional Urban Forester recommends a community to the Arbor Day Foundation for this standing.
Ohio boasts the greatest number of Tree Cities in the country and marks Ohio’s 45th consecutive year as the top Tree City USA state, according to the Ohio Division of Forestry. 52 Northwest Ohio’s communities are Tree Cities and four universities are honored as Tree Campus USAs (Ohio Northern University, the University of Findlay, Bowling Green State University and Heidelberg University.
Lakeside achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: maintaining a tree board or department, having a tree care ordinance, dedicating an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and publishing the Arbor Day Proclamation and hosting our annual Frank O’Dell Arbor Day Picnic.
“Tree City USA communities see the positive effects of an urban forest firsthand,” said Dan Lambe, Chief Executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The trees being planted and cared for by Lakeside are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program brings residents together and creates a sense of civic pride, whether it’s through volunteer engagement or public education.”
If ever there was a time for trees, now is that time. Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being, energy use, and extreme heat and flooding. Lakeside is doing its part to address these challenges for residents both now and in the future.
