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Brick Named A Tree City USA
By Catherine Snipe
For its ongoing efforts to stay green, the township has its trees to thank for a national environmental award.
For the second consecutive year, Brick was recently named as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation for demonstrating the town's commitment to forestry. Mayor Daniel Kelly announced the honor as he issued a proclamation designating April 27 as Arbor Day in Brick Township.
"We are very proud of being named a Tree City USA," Kelly said. "Being recognized for all this community has done to be a clean, green community is a great honor for all of us."
To receive the award, Brick had to maintain its shade tree commission, approve a tree care ordinance, develop a comprehensive forestry program and announce its Arbor Day observance.
The township's decades-old shade tree commission is a five member volunteer board appointed by the mayor. The group, which includes Councilman Dan Toth, meets regularly as an advisory agency for all trees on municipal property, whether on township streets or in its parks.
Brick's 13 public schools received the Arbor Day Kits this month from the commission, which distributed tree seedlings in the form of kits that students can use to plant trees. Each kit consists of four seedling trees, which have been nurtured in the commission's care. The packets contain planting instructions and an Arbor Day guidebook as well.
While the designation of Tree City USA has been around for several decades, Brick made the exclusive list of honored cities for the first time last year, joining dozens of municipalities throughout the state for the designation, including Paramus, which has been a Tree City USA for 30 years and counting.
Being named as a Tree City USA has several benefits, according to the National Arbor Day Foundation, such as developing civic pride and creating a greater opportunity for municipalities to be eligible for grants and funding.
"Tree City USA designation recognizes the work of elected officials, staff and citizens who plant and care for the community forest," John Rosenow, president of The National Arbor Day Foundation, said in a prepared statement.
The honor is granted to towns who maintain a budget of at least $2 per capita it spends on its trees and forestry. In turn, according to the foundation, the township's volunteer and monetary commitment improves the township's environment, residents' quality of life and can even be a source of tourism.
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