Flower Mound Leader / March 2, 2002 / by Cliff Despres, Staff Writer
Town receives forest service grant
Urban forestry is blossoming in Flower Mound.
After only a little more than a year in existence, the towns Urban Forestry Department which strives to reserve trees in an age of development recently received a $20,000 grant from the Texas Forest Service.
You cant place a dollar amount on the quality of life when you have mature trees in a development versus an area of clear-cut land, said Kevin Charles, the towns urban Forester.
The grant, which was already matched equally by town funds, will be used to fund urban forestry initiatives in town.
It can fund tree-planting events, seminars or help a municipality fund a position for an urban forester, Charles said. Its a great way to get funding.
Charles said the department assists the town in code enforcement, environmental education and reaches out to developers during the planning stages.
He said town developers are required to do a tree survey on their land in order to take all necessary precautions to not impede the root zones of trees.
I dont think people many realize how important is to leave excess trees in urban areas, Charles said. Trees help to reduce heating and cooling costs.
The urban forestry program has also birthed a unique tree-preserving opportunity for residents.
A tree dig, a four-hour event conducted on certain weekend mornings during the year, offers residents free trees and free mulch through community participation.
People are allowed to dig up a tree from a natural location and replant them in their lawns or backyards, thus saving foliage from possible destruction in future developments and enhancing residential lawns.
We try to give very small treesones that arent protected by ordinances the chance to be in yards, Charles said.
The urban forestry program has sponsored two tree digs so far in the 2001-02 fiscal year.
Another dig is slated for today at 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Old Settlers Road, just south of Flower Mound High School.
More than 100 residents attended the last tree dig on February 9, and Charles said he expects that number to grow.
Its tremendously important to get involved, he said. Most cities have departments for roads, infrastructure, police and fire. Then there are things youd like to have, and urban forestry probably falls into that category. But, if citizens get involved, urban forestry becomes a must-have program.
The towns urban foresters are also developing another plan to generate public interest in the environment.
A 2003 calendar, which will be offered toward the end of this year, will offer seasonal pictures of the scenery, sites and natural landscape features that are unique to Flower Mound.
More than 175 species of wildflowers and prairie grasses have been identified in Flower Mound, according to the citys web site at www.flower-mound.com.
Ive already taken pictures of the leaves of changing color in the fall and the snow we recently had, Charles said.
Mike Reber, the towns Park services manager, praised the efforts of the urban forestry department and the parks department.
We do a lot of tree rescue in areas that are about to be developed, he said. Were always trying to put more trees in parks. We have a lot of parks that are bare, and trees around playgrounds make the area more comfortable with shade.
The combination of tree-saving drives by both the urban foresters and the parks department has resulted in a national accolade.
For the past seven years, Flower Mound has been named a Tree City USA the designation awarded to municipalities that have taken huge steps to preserve the natural environment.
Were doing great. Charles said.