April 26, 2024 - Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation, Trees Indiana and other tree enthusiasts gathered today to celebrate Arbor Day. Fort Wayne has been named a Tree City USA® by the Arbor Day Foundation for the 34th consecutive year in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. The Parks Department also announced that the city received a Growth Award for the 19th consecutive year for demonstrating environmental improvement and an outstanding level of tree care.
A mayoral proclamation was also read to mark Arbor Day in Fort Wayne and to recognize the City’s continued commitment to preserving a healthy tree canopy. Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation also planted two Princeton Elm trees at Bob Arnold Northside Park and in partnership with Trees Indiana, tree seedlings were made available to residents (one per household) via a simple phone registration. The White Oak, Butternut and Black Walnut bare root seedlings were ready to plant for Arbor Day.
In addition to maintaining over 70,000 trees in the parks and neighborhood park strips throughout the city, the department works to add trees annually. In 2023, the City of Fort Wayne and City Council approved $500,000 for neighborhood street trees out of a local income tax supplement from the State of Indiana. Half of the trees have been planted and by the end of this year, the rest will be added to the City’s canopy to total approximately 2,000 trees.
“Planting and maintaining a growing tree canopy is a demonstrated way to improve our community,” said Fort Wayne Parks and Recreation Director Steve McDaniel. “From absorbing pollutants in the air that we breathe, taking up and using rainfall, reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, improving mood and providing shade, and cooling through evaporation, everyone benefits when we make trees a priority.”
For more information about Fort Wayne urban forestry efforts, visit fortwayneparks.org/forestry.
The Tree City USA® program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.