Greenfield receives
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For the sixth consecutive year, the Village of Greenfield has been recognized as a Tree City USA community for its efforts to plant and promote trees.
The recognition for calendar year 2019 came late this year as the Tree City USA celebration for southwest Ohio scheduled for April 23 was postponed until June 19 before ultimately being cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. However, ODNR arborist Wendi Van Buren notified communities in the district that the awards were ready to be mailed or picked up, and Greenfield Tree Commission Chairman Ron Coffey drove to Van Buren’s office at Caesar Creek State Park on June 10 to pick up the material, which included an update for the sign at the entrance to Greenfield on SR 41 North as well as a Tree City USA banner and a brass maple leaf. Van Buren and Coffey wore masks and observed social distancing in conformance with coronavirus guidelines.
The Tree City USA program is a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees. Van Buren said qualifying communities must meet four core standards of sound urban forestry management. Those include having a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an Arbor Day observance and proclamation, and a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita. Documentation of tree commission meetings and other criteria also must be met each year.
Greenfield began its quest to become a Tree City USA community in 2011 when Betty Bishop was city manager. Greenfield Village Council passed necessary legislation to create a tree commission and efforts began to meet the criteria established by the Arbor Day Foundation. In early 2015, Greenfield was notified that it had qualified for a 2014 Tree City USA award.
Each year since then, Greenfield has met the requirements to continue as a Tree City USA community. Already in 2020, the tree commission has planted five new maple trees in the downtown district and given away 150 Douglas fir seedlings to interested citizens.
Members of the Greenfield Tree Commission include Patsy Smith, Kandace Wilson, Angela Shepherd, Holly Ellinger and Ron Coffey.
The Tree City USA program is made possible through the partnership of the Arbor Day Foundation and state foresters.
For more information about the Tree City USA program, visit www.arborday.org.
The recognition for calendar year 2019 came late this year as the Tree City USA celebration for southwest Ohio scheduled for April 23 was postponed until June 19 before ultimately being cancelled due to concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. However, ODNR arborist Wendi Van Buren notified communities in the district that the awards were ready to be mailed or picked up, and Greenfield Tree Commission Chairman Ron Coffey drove to Van Buren’s office at Caesar Creek State Park on June 10 to pick up the material, which included an update for the sign at the entrance to Greenfield on SR 41 North as well as a Tree City USA banner and a brass maple leaf. Van Buren and Coffey wore masks and observed social distancing in conformance with coronavirus guidelines.
The Tree City USA program is a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees. Van Buren said qualifying communities must meet four core standards of sound urban forestry management. Those include having a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, an Arbor Day observance and proclamation, and a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita. Documentation of tree commission meetings and other criteria also must be met each year.
Greenfield began its quest to become a Tree City USA community in 2011 when Betty Bishop was city manager. Greenfield Village Council passed necessary legislation to create a tree commission and efforts began to meet the criteria established by the Arbor Day Foundation. In early 2015, Greenfield was notified that it had qualified for a 2014 Tree City USA award.
Each year since then, Greenfield has met the requirements to continue as a Tree City USA community. Already in 2020, the tree commission has planted five new maple trees in the downtown district and given away 150 Douglas fir seedlings to interested citizens.
Members of the Greenfield Tree Commission include Patsy Smith, Kandace Wilson, Angela Shepherd, Holly Ellinger and Ron Coffey.
The Tree City USA program is made possible through the partnership of the Arbor Day Foundation and state foresters.
For more information about the Tree City USA program, visit www.arborday.org.
Free tree seedlings distributed on
Arbor Day by Greenfield Tree Commission
The Village of Greenfield Tree Commission observed Arbor Day in a new way April 24, 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic that has kept students home from school. Typically the city manager visits with all the first graders in the Greenfield Exempted Village School District and presents each child with a tree seedling while extolling the virtues of trees.
With social distancing limiting the opportunity to interact with first graders, the Greenfield Tree Commission found itself with 150 Douglas fir seedlings that had been previously ordered and needed homes. At the April Tree Commission meeting, members came up with an alternative plan and decided to offer the young trees in packets of five on a first come, first served basis.
The Tree Commission announced that the trees would be given away starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 24 – which happened to be Arbor Day – and that the giveaway would continue until 2 p.m. or until all the trees were gone.
The plan was publicized quickly, thanks to local news media and Facebook posts.
Tree Commission Chairman Ron Coffey, with help from his wife Dianna, parked his pickup truck at the Greenfield City Building and placed the seedlings in the back of the truck. They put on face masks and did their best to keep an appropriate social distance to protect against the coronavirus.
Before 10 a.m. people were already waiting, and the response far exceeded Coffey’s expectations. “We wanted to give these young trees a chance to survive, but weren’t sure what the response would be. We even had a plan to deliver the leftovers to people who called in.” However, he got a surprise. “Instead of sitting for four hours waiting for a few tree lovers to stop by, we barely had a chance to sit down,” Coffey said. “At times cars were lined up as they came through Gen. Hull Place, and we kept handing out seedlings. Before I knew it we had reached the last layer of seedlings in the box, and it was only 11 a.m.”
Coffey said he asked people for their names and jotted down the names and number of trees. He cross-checked and everything added up: 150 trees given away in just over an hour.
“We were just super happy with the results.” Several people came by after we ran out of trees and we had to give them the bad news that there weren’t any left. I just want to thank the people of Greenfield for their interest and willingness to help us out.”
Information about planting and watering the young trees was posted on the Village of Greenfield Ohio Facebook page, and some sheets prepared by the Greenfield staff also were distributed.
Coffey expressed his thanks to City Manager Todd Wilkin and the Greenfield Village Council for supporting the Tree Commission’s efforts. “We hope to plant some maple trees downtown this year to help beautify the business district, and eventually fill the remaining empty tree pits in the downtown area.”
Members of the Greenfield Tree Commission in addition to Coffey include Patsy Smith, Kandace Wilson, Holly Ellinger and Angela Shepherd.
“These seedlings are small now, but they grow relatively quickly and have the potential to grow to 40-70 feet in height with a spread of 12-20 feet at maturity,” Coffey said.
The Douglas fir was named after botanist-explorer David Douglas, who described it as “one of the most striking and truly graceful objects in nature.” Tree expert Michael Dirr heralded it as “one of the noblest forest trees.” Douglas fir is one of the nation’s most important lumber species, it makes up nearly half of all Christmas trees grown in the U.S., and its attractive appearance and growth rate make it popular in yards and parks.
With social distancing limiting the opportunity to interact with first graders, the Greenfield Tree Commission found itself with 150 Douglas fir seedlings that had been previously ordered and needed homes. At the April Tree Commission meeting, members came up with an alternative plan and decided to offer the young trees in packets of five on a first come, first served basis.
The Tree Commission announced that the trees would be given away starting at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 24 – which happened to be Arbor Day – and that the giveaway would continue until 2 p.m. or until all the trees were gone.
The plan was publicized quickly, thanks to local news media and Facebook posts.
Tree Commission Chairman Ron Coffey, with help from his wife Dianna, parked his pickup truck at the Greenfield City Building and placed the seedlings in the back of the truck. They put on face masks and did their best to keep an appropriate social distance to protect against the coronavirus.
Before 10 a.m. people were already waiting, and the response far exceeded Coffey’s expectations. “We wanted to give these young trees a chance to survive, but weren’t sure what the response would be. We even had a plan to deliver the leftovers to people who called in.” However, he got a surprise. “Instead of sitting for four hours waiting for a few tree lovers to stop by, we barely had a chance to sit down,” Coffey said. “At times cars were lined up as they came through Gen. Hull Place, and we kept handing out seedlings. Before I knew it we had reached the last layer of seedlings in the box, and it was only 11 a.m.”
Coffey said he asked people for their names and jotted down the names and number of trees. He cross-checked and everything added up: 150 trees given away in just over an hour.
“We were just super happy with the results.” Several people came by after we ran out of trees and we had to give them the bad news that there weren’t any left. I just want to thank the people of Greenfield for their interest and willingness to help us out.”
Information about planting and watering the young trees was posted on the Village of Greenfield Ohio Facebook page, and some sheets prepared by the Greenfield staff also were distributed.
Coffey expressed his thanks to City Manager Todd Wilkin and the Greenfield Village Council for supporting the Tree Commission’s efforts. “We hope to plant some maple trees downtown this year to help beautify the business district, and eventually fill the remaining empty tree pits in the downtown area.”
Members of the Greenfield Tree Commission in addition to Coffey include Patsy Smith, Kandace Wilson, Holly Ellinger and Angela Shepherd.
“These seedlings are small now, but they grow relatively quickly and have the potential to grow to 40-70 feet in height with a spread of 12-20 feet at maturity,” Coffey said.
The Douglas fir was named after botanist-explorer David Douglas, who described it as “one of the most striking and truly graceful objects in nature.” Tree expert Michael Dirr heralded it as “one of the noblest forest trees.” Douglas fir is one of the nation’s most important lumber species, it makes up nearly half of all Christmas trees grown in the U.S., and its attractive appearance and growth rate make it popular in yards and parks.
A tree of significance!
A majestic Catalpa tree found in St. Joseph Cemetery in Greenfield adds to the peaceful atmosphere at the cemetery. In 2016, the circumference of the tree was approximately 21.5 feet around! Due to their large leaf size, Catalpas are a popular habitat for many birds, providing them good shelter from rain and wind. These trees drop large dark-brown bean pods during late summer. The pods resemble cigars, and some people call the trees Cigar Trees. The wood of Catalpas is quite soft, and the Greenfield tree is showing signs of decay at the trunk. This stately Catalpa is believed to be one of the older trees in our community. |
Click on the button for information about events in and around Greenfield from the Visitors Bureau of Highland County Facebook feed.
An updated Greenfield economic development plan has been adopted by Greenfield Village Council following a lengthy review process.
Village leadership sought community input and comment on the plan, which is entitled “An Economic Development Approach for Greenfield, Ohio.” Development of the plan began in 2016, and the Village of Greenfield is grateful to consultants Bill Grunkemeyer and Myra Moss for leading interested citizens and government leaders through the process. The plan can be viewed by clicking on the button above. A School of Beauty
A youtube video entitled “High School Fly By” showcases the lovely campus of the Greenfield Exempted Village School District including Edward Lee McClain High School, which could easily be mistaken for a small college. A link to the video is provided below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbZ1dkK4ZTQ FREDERICK DOUGLASS PATTERSON MADE
HISTORY IN GREENFIELD! The first African-American automobile manufacturer was from Greenfield, Ohio and built Greenfield-Patterson vehicles right in our “Greene Countrie Towne.” Learn more about Frederick Douglass Patterson and the C.R. Patterson & Sons manufacturing firm from this short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJmsI-sHFdU Portal offers info on area bike trails
The Ohio Valley Regional Development Commission is developing a bike trail portal and assembling information about various trails in the region -- including the Greenfield Paint Creek Bike Trail. Check out the portal by clicking HERE. This site offers links to individual trails. For the Greenfield Paint Creek Bike Trail, click HERE. |