FM named Tree City USA

The Town of Flower Mound was recently named a Tree City USA community for the 17th year by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

The designation recognizes urban forestry programs in communities that sustain the growth and protection of trees through the establishment of a Tree Board, a tree ordinance, budgetary support, and the observance of Arbor Day. According to the Texas Forest Service, only 73 cities in Texas have received the designation.

In addition to being named a Tree City USA, the Town was one of only 14 cities, out of approximately 1,208 in Texas, to receive the Arbor Day Foundation’s Growth Award. Presented in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service, the Growth Award recognizes environmental improvement and encourages higher levels of tree care throughout America.

Flower Mound received the environmental accolades based upon a points system that recognized the Town’s Median and Rights-of-way Master Plan, educational events, school, seedling giveaways, and plantings along the Town’s medians.

The awards were presented at a time when Flower Mound is in the process of planting an unprecedented 3,000 new trees throughout the Town, according to town officials.

Focusing on significant corridors and utilizing a variety of internal and external funding sources, including Denton County and Texas Department of Transportation monies, Flower Mound has or is in the process of planting numerous trees in the medians of the Town’s major roadways.

When the initiative is complete, approximately 869 new trees will have been planted along FM 2499, 731 along FM 1171, 596 in the Morriss/Gerault Road corridor, and 250 on Dixon Road.

Flower Mound is also participating in the Tree North Texas Initiative, a regional urban forestry program spearheaded by city of Richardson councilmember Amir Omar. Launched in April, the program is the largest tree planting initiative in the nation with more than 40 cities working toward a goal to plant 3 million trees in North Texas during the next 10 years.