Mary Hardin Thornton, executive director of Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful, thanks the crowd and all of the volunteers attending Friday’s Arbor Day event on Dean Avenue. (Jeremy Stewart, RN-T.com)
The new Tree City USA flag was presented to the city of Rome during Friday’s Arbor Day event on Dean Avenue. Shown with the flag are Assistant City Manager Sammy Rich (from left), Chief Forest Ranger for Floyd County Mike Brunson, City Manager John Bennett, Mayor Evie McNiece, and City Commissioners Bill Irmscher and Jamie Doss. (Jeremy Stewart, RN-T.com)
Three new trees recently planted in front of Rome Dentistry, 2000 Dean Avenue, were dedicated as part of the program celebrating the city’s 23rd year as a Tree City USA community.
“We’ve got great Arbor Day weather today and I’m certainly glad about that,” City Arborist Terry Paige told the crowd.
Mary Hardin Thornton, executive director of Keep Rome-Floyd Beautiful, which helped plan Friday’s program, said they have been working with Rome officials to focus on the corridors into the city.
The idea to spruce up Dean Avenue was a simple one to decide one since it serves as a main entrance into Rome as part of Ga. 101 and includes a school, retail stores, three banks and gas stations.
“There is a lot packed into that little area,” Thornton said. “When you think of all that goes on, that’s a lot of traffic and we want it to be beautiful to make a good impression on the people that use that corridor every day.”
Rome Dentistry, which houses the offices of Mark E. Fisher and Larry Stephens, had requested trees be planted in an undeveloped right-of-way and the city was happy to oblige.
Crews planted two Bloodgood Japanese maples and a Valynor Trident maple, all cultivated and provided for free by Moon’s Tree Farm in Loganville.
The trees were dedicated to the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Rome Federated Garden Clubs and the city of Rome.
Mike Brunson, chief forest ranger for Floyd County, presented the city with the Tree City USA flag to signify Rome’s continuing contribution towards tree conservation.
He also announced Rome as the recipient of the Tree City USA Growth Award for the sixth consecutive year.
“This reward is really difficult to get and a city must create new programs or have an increase in expenditures for conservation efforts year after year in order to receive it,” Brunson said.
“It is quite an accomplishment and I’m glad to make this presentation.”
Thornton said a big reason for Rome receiving the Growth Award was due to the boat tours Rome-Floyd County environmental inspector and development services arborist Brian Roberts did during last year’s Chiaha Festival.
Roberts provided commentary on the important relationship between the trees and the rivers while taking people up and down the Oostanaula and Coosa rivers.
Red chokeberry seedlings were made available for free at Friday’s event by Georgia Power Forestry and Right-of-Way Services, and people may pick up a free tree seedling from Lavender Mountain Hardware, 4065 Martha Berry Highway, through Sunday.
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