Chapel Hill wins a ninth consecutive Tree City USA Crown

When Emily Cameron, landscape architect of the Chapel Hill Public Works Department, asked a group of second graders from Morris Grove Elementary School why trees were important, the kids didn’t miss a beat.

“They help us breathe!” the students yelled.

They participated in a belated celebration of Arbor Day by learning about trees and writing poems which they presented to attendees of the town-sponsored event.

On Friday, Chapel Hill was crowned a Tree City USA for the ninth consecutive year.

A representative from the N.C. Division of Forest Resources presented an award on behalf of the  Arbor Day Foundation to Chapel Hill Town Council Member Ed Harrison for tree care in 2007.

Harrison received the award on behalf of the town, and the kids performed their poems before rushing outside, golden shovels in hand, to help plant a black gum tree.

To be eligible for the title, a town must:

- Have a public tree ordinance that outlines the protection of street and park trees.

- Have a department responsible for the care of trees, such as Chapel Hill’s Public Works Department.

- Spend at least $2 per capita on tree care. Chapel Hill spent about $7.08 per capita in 2007.

- Have a ceremony that celebrates Arbor Day.

Chapel Hill is one of 69 cities in the state and about 3,000 nationwide which earned this title. Arbor Day is actually in April, but the ceremony took place Friday because it’s less strenuous for the seed to germinate in winter.

Chapel Hill also received a Tree City USA Growth award for the fourth time in nine years.

“It’s sort of an ’Atta boy!’ for doing more than you’ve been doing every year,” Cameron said.

Last year, Chapel Hill surveyed the downtown business district and Old Chapel Hill cemetery, reviewed and edited the town’s ordinance to better protect trees from development and planted about 900 trees at the Town Operations Center.

Although the celebration provided fun and games for the young kids, the adults also recognized the special presence that Chapel Hill trees have.

“I’m from Michigan, and one thing I immediately noticed was how many trees were in this area,” said Gail Shen, the students’ teacher.

Chapel Hill resident Marianne Keady said the large amount of trees in the area near her house is soothing, and her young son noticed their presence.

“He said, ‘We have more trees than house!’” said Keady, who chaperoned at the event. “It’s just the beauty of it, the calmness.”



Contact the City Editor at citydesk@unc.edu.