In April while celebrating Arbor Week, Madison Parks Forestry section unveiled a new program to celebrate Madison’s arbor legacy. Nominations are due this week for this new program. See below for details and where to download the nomination form.
Madison Parks Forestry Launches new Heritage Tree Program to Celebrate Madison Arbor Legacy
Some trees have stood watch over lives and events that represent the fabric of our city. Madison is fortunate to have a rich and colorful historic heritage. To foster appreciation and inspire awareness of the contribution of city owned street trees and park trees to the City’s history and heritage, Madison Parks Forestry is launching a Heritage Tree Program. The program is a way for citizens to officially recognize special and significant city owned trees in the community.
The goals of the Heritage Tree Program are:
- to recognize and designate individual city owned trees or groves of significance
- to educate and inform the public about the value and history of city owned trees
- to promote appreciation of the city owned trees
- to maintain and protect these trees as part of the City’s heritage
Communities across the country at a local, state and national level enact Heritage Tree Programs to grant trees special status for their age, size, type or historical association.
“For a city like Madison, this kind of program is a perfect fit. Our parks and streets are filled with historic, natural landmarks,” said Kevin Briski, Madison Parks Superintendent. “This is our way of recognizing and celebrating them.”
Madison’s healthy and valuable trees are a living and distinct resource for the Madison community and now, trees can be nominated together or separately to receive this special status.
Each year up to 5 nominated trees will be selected. Heritage Trees will be announced during the Arbor Week celebration and posted on the website. Excellent candidates for the program will be healthy trees of exceptional size, form or rarity. They may carry historic or community significance.
For more information and nomination forms please visit:
https://www.cityofmadison.com/parks/services/forestry/HeritageTree.cfm