Take the PSL Tree Challenge

Take the PSL Tree Challenge

Help plant 185,000 trees in PSL in 2018

The City of Port St. Lucie honored as a 2017 Tree City USA

PORT ST. LUCIE, FL – It’s a simple and easy way to improve property values, beautify neighborhoods, cut cooling costs and protect the environment: Plant a tree!

The City of Port St. Lucie was named a 2017 Tree City USA for the 13th year for its commitment to the vital role that properly maintained trees play in keeping Port St. Lucie green and beautiful. Now, Port St. Lucie’s Mayor and City Council are asking all residents and local businesses to take our designation as a Tree City USA and to help it grow.

The City Council has issued a challenge for the City to plant 185,000 trees in 2018. that’s one tree for every resident in Port St. Lucie.

“There are thousands of reasons to love and plant trees.  They give us clean air to breathe, moderate temperatures, cut cooling costs, provide habitat and food for wildlife, and so much more,” said Port St. Lucie Mayor Greg Oravec. “Research has shown that the planting of trees is one of the most cost-effective investments we can make to improve the value of our homes, businesses and communities and that the mere presence of trees helps recuperating surgical patients recover faster.”

To help the City track the number of trees planted throughout Port St. Lucie in 2018, please visit www.cityofpsl.com/iplant and log your new tree on the interactive map. It’s quick and easy to put your tree on the map. (A helpful tutorial video about how to use the map also is available on site if needed.)

Also, please share photos of PSL’s new trees by posting on social media with #iplant.

Port St. Lucie achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements:  having a tree board or department, having a tree-care ordinance, maintaining an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and conducting an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

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.

“Everyone benefits when elected officials, volunteers and committed citizens in communities like Port St. Lucie make smart investments in urban forests,” said Matt Harris, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees bring shade to our homes and beauty to our neighborhoods, along with numerous economic, social and environmental benefits.”

The City of Port St. Lucie also received the Tree City USA Growth Award for the 12th year. The Growth Award recognizes environmental improvement and a higher level of tree care in the community, as evidenced by additions or significant improvements to the tree program during the year.

“In a time when we are so focused on saving our Rivers and the state and federal government are spending billions of dollars to fix Florida’s stormwater system, I think it’s important to point out that large shade trees can absorb 30 percent of rainfall through their leaves and another 30 percent through their roots, meaning that most of the rain that hits a large shade tree never runs off to pick up and then carry pollutants into our St. Lucie River or Indian River Lagoon,” Mayor Oravec added.

Port St. Lucie residents will have a great opportunity to pick up a new tree at Keep Port St. Lucie Beautiful’s Give-A-Tree, Spread-the-Shade Tree Giveaway on Saturday, May 19, 2018 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the City’s Public Works building, 450 SW Thornhill Drive. At this annual event, the City will give away an assorted variety of 500 trees that are native to Florida to Port St. Lucie residents, first come, first served.

More information on Tree City USA program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.

To watch a quick video message from Mayor Oravec about the 2018 PSL Tree Challenge, please click here:

 

 

TreasureCoast

TreasureCoast

Share

Post Info

  • Posted 6 years ago

Read More

The Insider's Guide to Florida's Treasure Coast

Subscribe

Receive the latest tips, information, & news!