The City of Cornelia celebrated thirty-two years of being a Tree City USA by planting trees at its Chenocetah Water Tank for Arbor Day. The city planted three Pink Dogwood trees to complete the Chenocetah Water Tank Beautification Project that began in 2022 with the construction of a decorative block retaining wall.
The Tree City program started in 1976 with the goal of helping communities manage and expand their public trees. More than 3,400 communities have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA. They have achieved Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.
“We’re excited to continue the long tradition of Cornelia’s commitment to planting trees throughout our community,” said Cornelia Mayor John Borrow, who attended this year’s ceremony along with city commissioner Mark Reed and others.
“This is our thirty second year with the Tree City USA designation and we take it seriously,” Borrow said. “We are committed to doing everything we can to beautify our community and preserve our nature for future generations.”
Although National Arbor Day is in April, each state typically celebrates Arbor Day during their regional planting season which in Georgia is in February.
