During its last city council meeting, the Dowagiac City Council upheld a tradition of taking care of its greenery.

For more than a decade, Dowagiac has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation. In order to be named a Tree City USA, a city must meet the Arbor Day Foundation’s four requirements: have 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 Monday, the city of Dowagiac kept up the traditions of the Arbor Day Foundation and showed its dedication to keeping nature alive in the city by approving a resolution to name the last Friday in April to be Dowagiac’s Arbor Day observance.

As he read of the resolution, Mayor Don Lyons listed many benefits of prioritizing and keeping trees alive. That list included but was not limited to: reducing erosion, cutting heating and cooling costs, providing wildlife habitats and beautifying the city.

Our editorial board agrees, and would like to offer congratulations to city leaders for continually prioritizing nature in the city. Though we love that the city is growing and we want to see that continue, we hope the city will continue to protect its natural greenery and the environment as time goes on. Plants and greenery are essential to a healthy planet and an attractive downtown.

So, we would like to thank city leaders for naming the last Friday in April Arbor Day, and we hope that Dowagiac will continue to be named a Tree City USA for many years to come.

Opinions expressed are those of general manager Ambrosia Neldon, managing editor Sarah Culton, sports editor Scott Novak and reporter Adam Droscha.