1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,671 Have you ever passed by the “Tree City USA” sign in the Village of Perry and wondered... 2 00:00:04,671 --> 00:00:07,600 What exactly is a tree city? 3 00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:12,017 Well, as it turns out, there is a group of people known as the Tree Board 4 00:00:12,017 --> 00:00:17,634 that uses municipal funds to help create and enforce the official tree laws. 5 00:00:17,634 --> 00:00:21,803 The Tree Board does this by deciding where trees should go, what trees should be removed, 6 00:00:21,803 --> 00:00:27,783 what kinds of trees should be purchased, and helps to plant and maintain said trees. 7 00:00:27,783 --> 00:00:31,767 So, what exactly qualifies a municipality as a Tree City? 8 00:00:31,767 --> 00:00:37,767 In addition to all that the Tree Board does, there needs to be an annual municipal budget for trees equivalent 9 00:00:37,767 --> 00:00:40,417 to two dollars per resident within the village. 10 00:00:40,417 --> 00:00:44,596 In the case of the Village of Perry, which has about 3,500 residents, 11 00:00:44,596 --> 00:00:51,813 the minimum budget to be a Tree City is $7,000. And Perry’s Tree budget is actually double that. 12 00:00:51,813 --> 00:00:55,548 Again, this budget supports bringing new trees into the village 13 00:00:55,548 --> 00:01:00,133 and the expenses of getting dead and or damaged trees out. 14 00:01:00,133 --> 00:01:07,122 Another qualification to be a Tree City is having an annual Arbor Day or Green City Day observation. 15 00:01:07,122 --> 00:01:11,065 During Perry’s celebration this year, Tree Board President Daniel Zerbe 16 00:01:11,065 --> 00:01:16,802 gave a walking tree tour of Perry, providing interesting facts about the trees lining the streets. 17 00:01:16,802 --> 00:01:20,607 The celebration also included the readings of tree themed PoeTREE 18 00:01:20,607 --> 00:01:23,436 written by students from Perry Elementary School. 19 00:01:23,436 --> 00:01:29,233 As for the factors in the decision process of where trees should go and what trees should be purchased? 20 00:01:29,233 --> 00:01:34,802 The Tree Board plants trees within the village property, including places like the Village Park, 21 00:01:34,802 --> 00:01:39,111 the Silver Lake Trail, and along the sides of the streets. 22 00:01:39,111 --> 00:01:43,158 Trees planted between the road and sidewalk need to withstand poor soil, 23 00:01:43,158 --> 00:01:46,704 have sturdy branches that don’t break easily in harsh weather, 24 00:01:46,704 --> 00:01:50,454 and do not grow to a height that interferes with electricity lines. 25 00:01:50,454 --> 00:01:57,369 Furthermore, it is ideal to have several varieties of trees next to each other to avoid tree diseases spreading easily 26 00:01:57,369 --> 00:02:00,428 The Tree Board does make some exceptions, though. 27 00:02:00,428 --> 00:02:06,358 for example Cherry Street has several Cherry Trees along it to match its namesake. 28 00:02:06,358 --> 00:02:10,481 So, what does the Tree Board have to say about trees? 29 00:02:10,481 --> 00:02:18,365 I'm always drawn to the many, many young, immature trees that line our streets. 30 00:02:18,365 --> 00:02:25,304 And I know that all of those trees were placed there and cared for by the work of the Tree Board. 31 00:02:25,304 --> 00:02:28,136 And that gives me some pride. 32 00:02:28,136 --> 00:02:34,284 One of the fun things about our village that I love about the trees is the variety. 33 00:02:34,284 --> 00:02:38,653 That, just walking down the street, I, you could see trees that 34 00:02:38,653 --> 00:02:41,901 you could hardly see anywhere else. They’re from all over the world. 35 00:02:41,901 --> 00:02:44,675 More disease resistance. 36 00:02:44,675 --> 00:02:48,399 And I feel like we’re walking in a garden. We have a village garden that we can 37 00:02:48,399 --> 00:02:52,939 you can just walk around and ponder each of the trees and how they’re different. 38 00:02:52,939 --> 00:03:05,020 As it turns out, trees are universally thought of as pretty, and are pretty uncontroversial. In addition to the aesthetic and environmental benefits of having more roots in the ground and leaves in the air, 39 00:03:05,020 --> 00:03:09,028 tree lined streets can actually improve pedestrian safety. 40 00:03:09,028 --> 00:03:13,558 When drivers see trees along the perimeters of streets or see landscaped centers, 41 00:03:13,558 --> 00:03:18,528 it affects their perception of lane width, psychologically encouraging drivers to 42 00:03:18,528 --> 00:03:22,170 go slower. 43 00:03:22,170 --> 00:03:25,445 How can you get involved with the Perry Tree Board? 44 00:03:25,445 --> 00:03:29,783 Simple! Give them a follow on Facebook, @TreeBoardVillageofPerry, 45 00:03:29,783 --> 00:03:33,155 for updates on volunteer work days you can join! 46 00:03:33,155 --> 00:03:34,505 Sound intimidating? 47 00:03:34,505 --> 00:03:40,753 Keep in mind, the Department of Public Works helps the tree board with their larger equipment needs and with tree maintenance, 48 00:03:40,753 --> 00:03:44,610 meaning volunteers can get their hands dirty without breaking their backs, 49 00:03:44,610 --> 00:03:48,418 and meet some tree-loving friendly folks in the process! 50 00:03:48,418 --> 00:03:52,553 You can also check out the Tree Board department page of the Village of Perry website, 51 00:03:52,553 --> 00:03:56,801 where you can find meeting minutes, information on purchasing a memorial tree, 52 00:03:56,801 --> 00:04:00,745 documents highlighting even more benefits of having trees around, 53 00:04:00,745 --> 00:04:03,753 as well as up to date contact information. 54 00:04:03,753 --> 00:04:05,411 Thank you for watching! 55 00:04:05,411 --> 00:04:08,913 This is Jules Hoepting from Letchworth Community Access.