June 19, 2017
City of Murphy named Tree City USA for sixth time
Designation recognizes City’s commitment to nature
MURPHY (June 19, 2017) For the sixth year in a row, the City of Murphy has been designated as a recipient of the Tree City USA certification from the Arbor Day Foundation.
“We have always been keenly aware of the relationship Murphy residents have with nature,” says Director of Public Services Tim Rogers. “Trees and natural landscaping are important parts of our identity as a City. Our commitment to nature helps define Murphy.”
The City has grown around and preserved an abundant urban forest, present on the City’s footprint since its inception. The staff and countless volunteers continue to cultivate that feature with constant maintenance of the Maxwell Creek corridor and its leafy canopy as well as various parks, trails, open spaces and the newly-completed Timbers Nature Preserve.
In addition to these efforts, the Arbor Day Foundation noted Murphy’s active adherence to the tenets of the Tree City USA designation. These include the program’s four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
“Citizens have expressed to us, in a variety of ways, that trees and natural landscaping are important to them,” added Rogers. “We take that very seriously and do what we can to ensure that trees are healthy and plentiful.”
Annually, during the Arbor Day celebration, the City hosts a morning-long tree-planting program that adds dozens of young saplings to areas in and around the City Hall complex.
The trees provide multiple benefits by helping to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits.
The Tree City USA designation covers calendar year 2016.
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