Green Acres: Grissom named Tree City USA

Published May 6, 2010
By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- In a land surrounded by corn, wheat and soy, it's hard to imagine a city of trees, but that's exactly what one finds at Grissom, which was recently named as a Tree City USA for the 9th straight year.

Not only was Grissom one of only 66 cities in Indiana to be honored with the award by the Arbor Day Foundation, it was the only military installation in the state to be honored in this manner.

"We've been awarded nine years in a row," said Cory Walters, 434th Civil Engineer Squadron environmental engineer. "This is recognition for us giving back to the environment."

To be named a Tree City USA, communities must meet certain criteria, said Pam Louks, an urban forestry coordinator for Indiana Department of Natural Resources. There must be a public tree care ordinance, a department that manages care of trees, a tree board to advise on the care of trees and an Arbor Day celebration. Communities must also spend at least $2 per person on tree maintenance and upkeep.

"Being named a Tree City USA is the icing on the cake for an urban forestry program," said Mrs. Louks who explained that it's not just enough to plant trees. "An urban forestry program includes the planting, maintenance and removal of trees; it's managing the whole gamut of the urban natural resource."

And, that natural resource is one that both Mr. Walters and Mrs. Louks said was important to maintain and protect due to the benefits it provides including: storm water interception; energy conservation and air pollution, all of which provide economic benefits and savings.

"This is really important because the urban forest is the main component that touches our air and water," she said. "It's the air we breathe and the water we drink; the trees clean it all."

Throughout its years as a tree city, the urban forest here has seen growth, which has prompted a refocusing of Grissom's efforts, said Mr. Walters.

"We used to concentrate on planting trees because we didn't' have many, but now that we have enough trees, we focus on quality over quantity," he said. "Now, the focus is on using proper pruning techniques, protecting the trees from lawn mowers, mulching around tress, watering them, staking them, and if one does get damaged, using the most widely accepted techniques so it can be saved down the line."

Even the mulch Grissom uses to maintain the trees and landscape is environmentally friendly, said the environmental engineer, who added that protecting the environment is not just the right thing to do, but it's critical to the mission.

"Without maintaining the environment, you can't do your training, especially when it comes to ground training," he said. "When you work, live and train in the environment, you have to protect it; if you don't keep it clean, what's going to keep you safe in it?"

But it's not just the commitment to the environment that Mr. Walters said he is so proud about.

"It's also an honor for the hard work we put in to keeping up the base," he said. "It's like a pat on the back that says everyone here takes pride in the installation and their work environment."

And that dedication to both the community and environment is what Mrs. Louks said the award is all about.

"We really appreciate the partnership with Grissom because Grissom is an example to the other communities in the state," she said. "We hope they learn from Grissom and the base can be a mentor to other cities on how to manage their urban forests."

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Green Acres: Grissom named Tree City USA

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