By Andrew Cluley
Ypsilanti, MI – For the first time, Ypsilanti is being proclaimed a "Tree City USA" community by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
City officials say they hope the designation will help efforts to receive funding to plant additional trees this year. The added trees are needed as the city has removed more than 200 ash trees from public lands due to the emerald ash borer infestation.
Public works director Harry Hutchinson says in a typical year, the city plants about 65 trees each fall. He hopes grants will enable the city to plant between 180 and 240 trees this year.
He says the city will also work with residents to properly dispose of infected ash trees on private property.