City of Poughkeepsie Plants 60 More Trees Through TD Tree Days

Have you driven into Poughkeepsie and seen the signs that say "Tree City USA?" Good news, Poughkeepsie has received a few grants (and designation) through the Arbor Tree Foundation and most recently through TD Bank, so they were able to plant 60 more trees last month.

The TD Trees Days program is a community based program that has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation with a goal of increase green spaces, by planting trees, in low to moderate income areas.

The TD Tree Days program (now in its ninth year) has a goal of planting one million trees in North America by 2030. With the trees that were planted in Poughkeepsie last month, they are currently at 436,000 trees that have been planted since the organization was formed in 2010.

According to a press release, The City of Poughkeepsie applied for this program and was selected with an additional 16 cities to receive the trees this fall. The other cities that also will be planting trees because of this initiative are Detroit, MI, Trenton, NJ. Wimauma, FL, Piedmont, SC, Lewiston, ME, Camden, NJ, Boynton Beach, FL, Bronx, NY, Pine Forest and Crandon Parks in Miami, FL, Bridgeport, CT, Myrtle Beach, SC, Roxbury, MA, Philadelphia, PA, Wilmington, DE, and Pawtucket, RI.

According to the Arbor Day Foundation website, Poughkeepsie has been a part of the Tree City USA program for 41 years, with other towns in the Hudson Valley also participating.

Rhinebeck, 10 years
Newburgh, 15 years
Saugerties, 4 years
Town of Red Hook, 14 years
Town of Pawling, 1 year

What does it mean to be a Tree City USA? There are 4 criteria that need to be met before a town, city or municipality can apply for Tree City USA designation:

They must establish A Tree Board or Department and establish who will be taking care of the trees
There must be a Tree Care Ordinance in place. Essentially, there needs to be a "tree plan" in conjunction with the Tree Board that plans for care. maintenance and planting.
A Community Program with a solid annual budget. The Arbor Day Foundation, likes applicants to have a budget of at least $2 per capita, to make sure towns will continue to be dedicated to the trees.
Towns will also need to have an Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation. The next Arbor Day will be held on April 30, 2021.

If you want more information about the Arbor Day Foundation, and how planting trees can make a difference in your community, click here.