Hannibal celebrates 25 years of designation as Tree City USA

HANNIBAL, Mo. — The Hannibal Tree Board is celebrating its 25th year of Hannibal earning the Tree City USA designation. A Tree City USA proclamation at the Tuesday, Aug. 20, City Council meeting.

Kristy Trevathan, president of the Hannibal Tree Board, said receiving the Tree City USA designation means Hannibal residents enjoy the benefits of a greener, healthier community. In those 25 years, almost 1,000 trees have been planted.

Tree City USA was established in 1976 by the Arbor Day Foundation’s oldest programs. To be certified, a town or city must meet four standards established by The National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters:

• Maintain tree board or department
• Have a community tree ordinance
• Spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry
• Celebrate Arbor Day

These standards were established to ensure that every qualifying community would have a viable tree-management plan and program. These standards were also designed so no community would be excluded because of size. In Missouri, cities with Tree City USA certification range in population from 159 to 441,000 people.

Trevathan said the Hannibal Tree Board not only meets but exceeds the requirements of Tree City USA by undertaking several tasks:

• Promote planting new trees in Hannibal’s public spaces
• Help maintain trees in our public spaces
• Work with Hannibal Board of Public Works, street and parks departments to encourage planting native species
• Recognize a Tree of the Month
• Educate the public and city government about the value of trees to our neighborhoods and city

Trevathan said Hannibal residents can see the results of Tree Board work daily. She said more than 150 trees have been planted on the South Main Street flood-buyout land. The Bald Cypress Grove was dedicated to Ed Tamerius, who had served on the Hannibal Tree Board for 22 years. Trevathan said the goal is to reforest that property with flood-resistant trees.

The Tree Board also worked with BASF in 2016 to plant more than 300 trees on the east side of Ely St. across from the Dempsey Dog Park in conjunction with BASF’s 50th year in Hannibal. Employees and family members from BASF helped with the planting.

The Tree Board raised money in 2018 to replace the almost 30 trees in Central Park damaged by storms.

Trevathan said when the Tree Board first was established, the group decided to plant trees along Warren Barrett Drive, especially near the Industrial Park, because the whole area needed some beautification. More recently, the Tree Board created the Main Street and Broadway Tree Plans, working with urban foresters and the Missouri Department of Conservation. She noted many trees are memorial gifts, especially from John Martin, who donated more than $13,000 in honor of his parents for all the trees along Broadway.

In the 25 years Hannibal has been a Tree City USA, more than 1,000 trees have been planted.

“These trees have become an important part of every community. When streets are lined with trees, that creates a peaceful, aesthetically pleasing environment and brings nature closer to all of us,” Trevathan said.

The Tree Board works with the Missouri Department of Conservation on many projects such as receiving $1,700 worth tools for the Tree Boards bi-annual mulching and pruning. The Tree Board also receives The Arbor Day Tree Planting, one of the Tree Board’s favorite activities. This year it was at Norfolk and Southern MultiSports Complex, where the Tree Board planted a linden tree in honor of past Tree Board member Raymond Witt.

The tree-planting often includes area students learning about planting trees and taking care of them. Trevathan said she saw a Eugene Field student later after the planting of the linden tree and he asked about the tree, showing the students involved in the tree-planting remember the trees’ value as they grow.

Memorials for trees are recognized on a plaque in City Hall.

Trevathan said the Tree Board hopes to expand its mission by working with Hannibal Public School representatives to establish a Tree Campus K-12 USA program. Hannibal-LaGrange University became a Tree Campus Higher Education program 11 years ago.

Members of the Tree Board are Trevathan, Paul Ewert, Susan Welker, Paul Miller, Harry Graves and David Vance.