West Goshen’s Arbor Day 2021 is not just a celebration of the township’s heritage trees, it is also the first step to attaining Tree City USA certification by the Arbor Day Foundation. To be a Tree City, a community must meet four standards: establish a tree overseer, board, or department; a tree care ordinance for public property; $2.00 per capita annual spending on tree management; and an annual Arbor Day ceremony and proclamation. The SAC is coordinating the application process.
To become a Tree City USA community will be a badge of honor that demonstrates West Goshen’s commitment to maintaining and improving trees on public property. It will also provide a framework for actions that encourage residents, businesses, and schools to plant and care for trees on their own properties. Increasing the township’s overall tree canopy will add beauty, reduce energy costs, help wildlife, mitigate stormwater and flooding, and generally improve the quality of life in West Goshen.