Haddonfield was named a 2022 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor the Borough’s commitment to effective urban forest management. The Borough also received a Tree City USA Growth Award for demonstrating environmental improvement and outstanding tree care. This is the 30th year Haddonfield has received this distinguished award!
“Our tree canopy is one of the greatest assets in Haddonfield, and the breadth and depth of the trees while walking or diving through the Borough is what separates us from other municipalities,” says Commissioner Frank Troy. “The Tree City USA Designation is a culmination of thirty years of the Shade Tree Commission members, Branch Managers, Department of Public Works Associates, and elected officials working to make it better than how we found it. In my tenure, I have made an effort to improve communication about tree health. Our team has gotten creative about removing dead trees, trimming healthy trees, and planting replacement trees to beautify the community and ensure we earn the designation for years to come. As always, we welcome volunteers to help us move forward.”
Haddonfield achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: maintaining a tree board or department, having a tree care ordinance, dedicating an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and hosting an Abor Day observance and proclamation.
“The Tree City USA designation is just as important now as it was 30 years ago in Haddonfield due to recent, and ever more visible, reductions to our urban forest canopy,” says Shade Tree Commission Chair Scott McElhone. “Various factors contribute to removing public and private trees, including an active home construction industry; an ongoing road reconstruction program; invasive pests; diseases; and climate change.” McElohne continues, “What this achievement represents is not just an ongoing financial commitment to the urban forest but also 30 years of time & talent lent by past & present municipal leaders and Shade Tree Commissioners, all to ensure the propagation of our precious tree resource for generations to come.”
A proclamation was read on April 28, where the Haddonfield Shade Tree Commission and children from Elizabeth Haddon Elementary School participated in Haddonfield’s annual Arbor Day Ceremony on Friday, April 28 on the corner of Birchall Drive and Kings Highway. This year’s tree is a Dawn Redwood, chosen because it will grow to become a grand tree to fill the corner space.
The Chair of the Haddonfield Shade Tree Commission, Scott McElhone, and Gerry Bissinger, Principal at Elizabeth Haddon School, were present.
