Merrill was named a 2017 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. This is the 32rd year that Merrill has been named a Tree City USA community.

Merrill achieved Tree City USA recognition 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.

On Friday, Merrill celebrated Arbor Day at the MARC with the planting of 10 trees of eight different species. Funding for the trees planted for Arbor Day came from a Wisconsin Public Service donation.

Mayor Derek Woellner read the city’s Arbor Day proclamation.

“The more trees we can plant, the more aesthetically pleasing our city can be,” said Merrill Park and Recreation Director Dan Wendorf.

In Merrill, Wendorf’s department and the Street Department work together to take care of the city’s trees.

The city spent $85,000 last year on tree-related activities, including the pre-emptive removal of Ash trees. The city also planted about 130 trees last year.