Making Azusa Greener

“When our City Manager first announced we were going to plant 2000 trees in the year 2000, we didn’t know how, but we knew we’d find a way,” laughed Associate Recreation and Park Director Randy Noriega. “I was amazed at how much help poured in and with a couple of extra months, we are actually going to exceed that goal and go on and plant another 1000 trees in 2001.”

A commitment of just $25,000 in the Capital Improvement Program provided the first seed money. A $50,000 State grant helped and so did an outpouring of community volunteers organized by Mayor Pro Tem Joe Rocha who planted over 200 trees on weekends with the help of neighborhood residents. On the first day of the new school year, the freshman class of Azusa Pacific University turned out to plant another 125 and the momentum was hard to stop. Azusa Light and Water made a major commitment of Public Benefit funding to promote the energy-saving advantages of trees and the goal was soon in sight.

Azusa’s 6,000 existing trees are no longer neglected either. When budgets were cut, trees weren’t and a crew of just two tree trimmers had fallen far behind on even keeping up with complaints. “Working with Azusa Light and Water, which contracts for safety pruning, we combined to seek a long-term bid,” Noriega added. “By cutting the costs, we’re able to get back to a regular schedule to trim all the city’s trees to keep them healthy, beautiful and a growing asset to our neighborhoods.” Now the city’s tree trimmers spend more of their time as arborists, ensuring quality control and taking care of Azusa’s growing urban forest.

“When you see the reaction of residents, you understand how important planting every single tree is to building pride,” concluded Mayor Pro-Tem Rocha. “I hope the many young people who have helped plant these trees will tell their grandchildren about our concern for their future”.