The City of Council Bluffs recently received a 2018 Tree City USA Award at the 29th Annual Community Forestry Awards Luncheon in Des Moines. The award was presented by the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources on April 3, 2019.
“The Tree City USA award is a symbol for communities who have made a commitment to the management of public trees,” says state forester Jeff Goerndt. “The City of Council Bluffs has provided an outstanding example for other Iowa communities by enhancing our forest resources and demonstrating the great value of trees in providing multiple benefits for future generations.”
Council Bluffs was one of 80 Iowa communities to qualify for Tree City USA status. To receive the award, a city must, at a minimum, have either a city forester or an active city tree board; have a tree ordinance; spend at least $2 per capita annually for its community forestry program; and have a tree planting and maintenance plan.
“We are very proud of our Parks and Recreation department,” says Mayor Matt Walsh. “They work diligently to maintain and enhance the natural beauty of Council Bluffs, and thanks to their hard work, our parks and public spaces are some of the best in the country. This award is a great way to recognize all of their efforts.”
Pictured from left to right: Jeff Goerndt, State Forester; Bruce Trautman, Acting Director of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Jeff Wigington, City of Council Bluffs Landscape Technician; Pat Cohrs, City of Council Bluffs Horticulture and Grounds Supervisor.