Round Lake is awarded Tree City USA designation

Thanks to the efforts of Trustee Sherry Perkowitz the Village of Round Lake has been named a Tree City USA community by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The recognition results from the village’s commitment to community forestry.

For more than a decade, Illinois has ranked second in the nation for the number of communities participating in the Tree City USA program.

“Illinois Tree City USA communities spend $82 million annually on tree planting and care,” said IDNR Tree City USA Program Coordinator Reinee Hildebrandt. “Urban and community forestry is a part of a $4.7 billion industry in Illinois.”

Four criteria must be met to be eligible to participate in the Tree City USA program:

• A community must legally designate a city official or volunteer tree advocate as having authority over the management and care of the community’s urban forest.
• A community must have a community tree ordinance that specifically recognizes the local tree authority and identifies urban forest management and tree care standards by which the community will abide.
• The community must invest at least $2 per resident in its urban forestry program.
• Communities must conduct an annual Arbor Day tree planting ceremony with an official Arbor Day proclamation.

“This recognition showcases the dedicated efforts of our public works employees, elected officials and village administration in planning, planting and caring for our community forest. This prestigious award is an excellent indication that there is a solid foundation in place for making Round Lake one of the most desirable communities in western Lake County,” said village trustee Sherry Perkowitz.