Since the spring of 1986, the Arbor Day Foundation has designated Galva an official “Tree City USA”. Winning cities must complete a specific application, noting policies, budgets, planting, maintenance programs and collaborations with volunteers and other environmentally aligned agencies.
An article in the February 12, 1986 edition of the Galva News, said to gain the title of “Tree City USA” 44 years ago, the city had to promise to spend $1 per capita for tree planting and create a tree board or city department to oversee the program.
Bob Miller was the city’s designated Forrester, and his column appeared frequently in the weekly newspaper. Miller’s columns often dealt with the care and feeding of trees, the safe use of garden sprays, hints on container trees, and cross-pollination. The road that runs through Wiley Park was designated as “Bob Miller Way” in his honor.
According to City Administrator David Dyer, the $1 per capita obligation is still in effect, but the city budgets more for the plantings each year. The tree committee consists of Mayor Rich Volkert, Jane Kaiser and Supt. of Streets Richard Plummer. This year, Galva plans to plant between 20 and 25 trees, many of which will be planted this fall when the city offers a 50/50 cost share with residents.
Included in the early Galva News article, then-Mayor Dave McClintic noted how Galva had always been known for its beautiful parks.
“We want that to be as true 50 years from now as it is today,” said McClintic. “As a ‘Tree City USA,’ we can guarantee it.”
Arbor Day was the brainchild of J. Stanley Morton, who launched the program in the state of Kansas in 1892. There, over a million trees were planted, and the idea took off from that. A little over eight decades later, the Arbor Day Society began the “Tree City USA” program, giving the designation to 42 communities in 16 states. Today, nearly 4,000 cities are granted the status and are found in all 50 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico.
At the City Council’s recent April meeting, Mayor Rich Volkert read the Arbor Day proclamation noting that the day is true to the mission of the Arbor Day Foundation, in setting aside a time to encourage individuals and groups to plant trees. He congratulated the city on its long-time “Tree City USA” designation.
