TREE BOARD OF THE CITY OF MADISON
Because trees are such an important part of the environment in Madison, the City Council enacted an ordinance establishing a City Tree Board to be responsible for the management for our collection of public trees. The Tree Board manages the trees that grow along the public streets and parks that lie within its jurisdiction. That jurisdiction is bounded by the Ohio River on the south, the toe of the hill on the north, and the corporate limits on both the east and west. This ordinance outlines the species and sizes of trees that can be planted in public spaces, the requirements for traffic and personal safety, utility service clearances, and procedures for routine care or removal of trees when required.
Who Are We?
Madison’s public tree management is administered by the City Tree Board, assisted the City Arborist. The five-member Tree Board is composed of Madison residents who serve on the Board without pay. Its members are appointed by the Mayor. The City Arborist is a City employee knowledgeable in the field of Urban Forestry.
The Tree Board’s administration of the public tree management plan includes:
- ensuring proper planting procedures
- choosing planting sites for the 30-40 trees planted annually
- reviewing and acting upon requests for removal and pruning of street trees
- providing educational information on trees to citizens
- planning an annual Arbor Day celebration
- promoting public awareness of the importance of the City’s trees
- planning and coordinating a yearly project: past projects have included the Mulberry and Second St. parking lot, Broadway Fountain and the Main St. parking lot
What Qualifies?
What is a “Street Tree”?
A street tree is any tree growing on a public street, most often found between the sidewalk and the street. The Tree Board does not govern trees that grow on private property.
Ask Before You Act
The Tree Board governs both the maintenance of existing street trees and the planting of a new one. If you think an existing street tree near your property may require removal or pruning, or if you would like to plant a tree along the street adjacent to your property, contact the Street Department at 265-8304.
The Right Tree For the Right Place
The ordinance establishes guidelines for planting street trees, helping to ensure that trees planted today will not create unwanted problems in the future. These guidelines govern placement and type of trees to be planted as street trees. The Tree Board has developed a list of approved street trees. These trees have been found to grow to appropriate sizes and to be able to withstand the rigors of growing in the urban environment.Below is the list of approved street trees.
River Birch
European Hornbeam
Ginkgo
London Planetree
Red Oak
English Oak
Common Bald Cypress
Japanese Zelkova
Lacebark Elm
Red Maple
Sugar Maple
Living Memorial Tree Planting Fund
Anyone can contribute to Madison’s urban forestry program by making a tax-deductible donation to the Living Memorial Tree Planting Fund. This donation may be made as a general donation, or be made as a memorial to a specific person. To make a donation contact the Street Dept. at 265-8304.
CONTACTS
City Arborist - Randy Eggenspiller 265-8304
Current Tree Board Members
Anna Lucas 265-6367
Kathy Rohlfing 265-6003
Julie Rubio 701-4446
Nick Ellis N_ellis@hotmail.com or 599-0180
BENEFITS OF TREES
We all know our trees are beautiful, but here are some facts about trees that you might not know.
Trees provide oxygen, shade and shelter.
Trees keep the air supply fresh by absorbing carbon dioxide.
Trees lower air temperatures in hot weather.
Trees reduce cooling and heating costs.
Trees act as a sound barriers, cutting back on noise pollution.
Trees stabilize the soil, preventing erosion.
Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife.
Trees enhance the resale value of our properties.
Trees act as wind breaks as well as visual buffers.
Trees absorb and filter water runoff before it flows into the sewer system.
Even though we may sometimes get tired of raking and pruning, and doing the work necessary to take care of our trees, we can all agree that the benefits of our urban forest definitely outweigh the inconveniences.
TREE CITY USA
The Tree City USA program was established by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters to provide direction, technical assistance, and national recognition for thousands of towns and cities across the country. There are over 135 million people, living in more than 3,400 communities, that are currently living in a Tree City. There are 67 Tree Cities in Indiana.
Madison has been a Tree City since 1995, and has received the Sterling Community award for achieving the Growth award for 10 years.
To become a Tree City USA, a city must establish and maintain the following:
: A Tree Board or Department
: A Tree Care Ordinance
: A Community Forestry Program With an Annual Budget of a Least $2 Per Capita
: An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation
Establishing and maintaining these standards take a lot of work and commitment, but becoming a Tree City has many rewards. The Tree City USA program touches the lives of people within the community who benefit daily from cleaner air, shadier streets, and the aesthetic beauty that healthy, well-managed urban forests provide, and can make a strong contribution to a community’s pride.
If you would like more information go to www.arborday.org