CIRCLEVILLE, OH – The Circleville Tree Commission presented an update on its initiatives at the Rotary Club’s meeting on October 1. Members Beth Kowalski, Paul Hang, and Sheri Theis shared the commission’s achievements, including Circleville’s recent designation as a “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
Since its establishment, the Tree Commission has collaborated with the city service department to plant over 500 trees throughout Circleville, enhancing the city’s green spaces and urban environment.
In a significant boost to its green initiatives, Circleville recently secured a federal grant of one million dollars from the Urban and Community Forestry Grant program, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. This grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forestry Service, will be distributed over five years and is part of a nationwide effort to increase tree cover in various communities.
The Tree Commission applied for this funding under the initiative titled “The Green Circleville Initiative.” Plans include hiring a city arborist, conducting a comprehensive tree inventory, planting new trees, and replacing trees along downtown Main Street.
Circleville’s “Tree City USA” status reflects its commitment to urban forestry, supported by a robust plan for the care, preservation, pruning, planting, maintenance, and removal of trees and shrubs in public areas. In recent years, the commission has planted more than 140 trees, significantly contributing to the city’s aesthetic and environmental health.
The Tree Commission invites the public to join its meetings, held on the second Thursday of each month at 6:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. New volunteers are welcome to help support the commission’s ongoing efforts.
With its recent recognition and the acquisition of federal funding, Circleville reaffirms its dedication to enhancing urban forestry and improving the quality of life for its residents.
