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News reached Tullahoma City Forester Lyle Russell this week that for the 27th year in a row, the City of Tullahoma has earned the title of Tree City, USA. The designation is awarded annually by the Arbor Day Foundation through the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council. Also, Tullahoma Utilities Authority (TUA) Arborist Monty Hawkins was notified that TUA earned the Tree Line, USA title for the 12th straight year.

There are multiple benefits to maintaining a healthy tree canopy in a community like Tullahoma according to Russell, who is a certified Arborist and has been Tullahoma’s Forester since 2020.

“Trees reduce road noise by about 40% in heavier trafficked areas and can help reduce heating and cooling bills for a home or business up to around 25%,” he said. “There is also the unseen benefits of carbon storage, air and water filtration, stormwater mitigation, and the simple idea of improving green spaces for recreation.”

In addition to the Tree City, USA award, Tullahoma also qualified for its fifth Growth Award. This add-on designation shows a forward-thinking approach to managing the city’s urban canopy. There are several categories that earn points toward the award. Tullahoma received it’s first Growth Awards designation in 2002 and 2003. Tullahoma earned it again in 2022 and has won it each year since. “Earning the Growth Award is quite a feather in Tullahoma’s cap,” Russell says. “It shows that our city is making progress in environmental efforts to protect and enhance the canopy we have and demonstrates our efforts in helping the built environment and natural environment work in tandem instead of against each other.”

Tullahoma Parks and Recreation is planning an event to accept the awards and mark Arbor Day on Thursday, April 25, at the East Park Arboretum and Disc Golf Course from 10 a.m. to noon, and the community is invited to attend. National Arbor Day is the following day on Friday, April 26.

“Tullahoma commemorates Arbor Day every year, and we’ll be officially recognized for our 27th Tree City, USA award at that event,” Russell said. “TUA will also be recognized for their 12th Treeline, USA award at the same time. Monty and I have a great working relationship on tree concerns around town and we’re happy to share the spotlight with TUA for their recognition, too. The linemen at TUA did a great job keeping power going through our recent storm events, and a big reason for that is Monty’s tree management keeping the lines cleared.”

Tullahoma Tree Board Chairman, Ralph Graham also expressed excitement about the award and the upcoming event.

“The Tree Board is delighted to have this recognition bestowed on Tullahoma for the 27th straight year,” Graham said. “The board and I are very proud of the efforts the city and the utility company are making to preserve our urban canopy. We also congratulate TUA for their well-earned recognition.”

Tullahoma’s Tree Board is an advisory council for maintaining Tullahoma’s tree canopy and meets monthly at the D.W. Wilson Community Center.

At the event in April, Tullahoma Mayor Ray Knowis will present the annual Arbor Day Proclamation, and members of the Tullahoma Tree Board will be there to help with tours of the arboretum, answer questions about the board’s activities, and support the festivities. Officials from the Tennessee Division of Forestry and the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council will also be in attendance, as well as members of the Tullahoma Disc Golf Association who use the park on a regular basis. A short presentation by Middle Tennessee Raptor Center on the relationship between birds and trees is also planned, and there will live raptor education ambassadors for attendees to meet. Other activities are in the planning phases now.

According to their website, The Arbor Day Foundation began the Tree City, USA recognition program in 1976 with a vision for greener and healthier America. As of 2023, the program boasts over 3,600 communities across all 50 states that have earned the title. Tullahoma has been a part of the program since the first award received in 1997. The Tree Line, USA is awarded to utility companies that meet specific standards in the practice of arboriculture throughout the year concerning utility cuts and pruning. For more information on the award and The Arbor Day Foundation, visit www.arborday.org. For more information on Tullahoma’s Arbor Day event, please contact City Forester Lyle Russell at 931-455-1121.