PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – One way to welcome the spring weather and highly anticipated summer season is with the planting of trees. For the 2019 Arbor Day celebration, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado held an annual Arbor Day tree planting ceremony as part of its partnership with the Colorado State Forestry Service.
Peterson AFB was presented the Tree City USA award for its urban landscaping and forestry program from the Colorado State Forestry Service. The program has been in existence since 1976 and provides guidelines for communities to manage and expand their public trees. To receive the award a community must meet or exceed four standards:
• There must be a tree board or department. Peterson’s is chaired by the 21st Space Wing commander.
• A tree care ordinance program must be established; ours is maintained by 21st Civil Engineer Squadron.
• A community forestry program with an annual budget formed. Peterson’s annual forestry budget is $80,000.
• An Arbor Day observance proclamation day. Our Peterson AFB annual Arbor Day Observance is celebrated May 23rd, set forth by the 21st Space Wing 2019 Arbor Day proclamation.
“Receiving this award today is a testament to the hard work our 21st Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen do,” said Col. Sam Johnson, 21st Space Wing vice commander. “The culmination of their efforts are reflected in our recreational common areas, Capt. Lyon Memorial Park, and in every corner of our installation. They consistently define what it is to be Team Pete.”
Children from the Peterson AFB Child and Youth Programs witnessed the award ceremony and helped plant trees in honor of the Tree City USA award ceremony and to commemorate Arbor Day. The 21st CES Grounds Maintenance program maintains the landscaping on the installation and plants new foliage annually.
“Peterson AFB planted 75 new trees in 2018 and maintains over 10,000 trees currently on our installation,” said Steve Sullivan, 21st CES Grounds Maintenance manager. “The 21st CES Grounds Maintenance program has over 517 acres of landscaping, plants and foliage that the program is responsible for.”
To learn more about the 21st CES Grounds Maintenance program and the Peterson AFB Tree City USA program, contact Bob Tomlinson, environmental quality chief at robert.tomlinson@us.af.mil, or 719-556-6100.