In December, Mayor Gloria Hines reads the Arbor Day Proclamation recognizing the importance of trees to our community and recognizing the Darlington Garden Club for its donation to plant 7 cherry trees along South Main Street.

Darlington, South Carolina, has been named a 2019 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management.

Darlington achieved Tree City USA recognition for the 21st consecutive year by meeting the program's four requirements: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

"Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community firsthand," said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. "The trees being planted and cared for by Darlington are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program brings residents together and creates a sense of civic pride, whether it's through volunteer engagement or public education."

The City planted more than 60 trees in 2019 and pruned more than 100 trees.

If ever there was a time for trees, now is that time. Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being, energy use, and protection from extreme heat and flooding. The Arbor Day Foundation recently launched the Time for Trees initiative to address these issues with the unprecedented goal of planting 100 million trees in forests and communities and inspiring 5 million tree planters by 2022. With Tree City USA recognition, Darlington has demonstrated a commitment to effective urban forest management and doing its part to help address these challenges for Darlington residents now and in the future.

More information on the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a million-member nonprofit conservation and education organization with the mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Find the foundation online at arborday.org.

***Individuals interested in having trees planted by the City in their yards can contact Lisa Rock at 843-398-4000 x 103 or email rock@cityofdarlington.com.