Ponca City recognized at Arbor Week celebration

Oklahoma celebrates Arbor Week with a kickoff event at the Oklahoma History Center. From left are Tammy Anderson, Ponca City, Secretary of Agriculture Jim Reese, and Terri Conner, Ponca City.

Oklahoma Forestry Services and the Oklahoma Urban and Community Forestry Council recently recognized the city of Ponca City in Oklahoma City for its achievement in earning its Tree City USA designation, awarded by the Arbor Day Foundation, for the city’s demonstrated commitment to healthy trees.

The event, held at the Oklahoma History Center and attended by representatives from organizations across the state, celebrated the annual kickoff of Oklahoma’s Arbor Week, which occurs the last full week of March each year.

“The communities, universities and utility companies we are honoring are the leaders when it comes to caring for trees, forests and natural systems in city and towns across Oklahoma.” said Urban & Community Forestry Coordinator Mark Bays.  “Arbor Week is a great time for all Oklahomans to get out and plant trees, and I encourage all communities to become engaged as a Tree City USA.”

Participants at the celebration heard presentations from OSU Extension professor Dr. Eric Rebek about future insect and health threats facing community trees, and from Certified Arborist Neil Bilger of Oklahoma City Parks Department on how to best prepare for the uncertainties of these threats.

“The City of Ponca City is proud to be recognized as a Tree City USA for its 12th year,” said Terri Conner, Ponca City horticulture director.

The Tree City USA program provides the framework for community forestry management across the United States. Ponca City is among 23 distinguished Oklahoma communities to achieve this status by meeting core standards of sound urban forestry tree care.

Oklahoma Forestry Services encourages Oklahomans to use Arbor Week as a time to plant new trees and take care of existing ones. They are also asking residents to check with their local communities for Arbor Week celebrations and activities that will be taking place across the state.

For more information about becoming a designated Tree City USA community, contact Oklahoma Forestry Services, a division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food & Forestry, at (405) 522-6150 or www.forestry.ok.gov or The Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org.