Bullard to become a Tree City USA

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February 28, 2011

Bullard to become a Tree City USA

Meagan O'Toole-Pitts Jacksonville Daily Progress The Jacksonville Daily Progress Mon Feb 28, 2011, 08:06 PM CST

BULLARD — Leisurely strolls in the shade along a stretch of old railroad tracks — that’s what’s in store for residents of the City of Bullard.

On March 5, the city, with the help of the Bullard Rotary Club, a few boy scouts, and AAA Grass & Stone, Inc. in Tyler, will plant 35 Shumard Red Oak trees on a .25-mile stretch of land between Bullard High School and The Brook Hill School.

It is the first step in making Bullard a Tree City USA, designated by the Arbor Day Foundation.

“The Rotary Club, here in Bullard, wanted Bullard to become a Tree City USA, and so they have purchased 50 trees to start the program off with,” said City Manager Larry Morgan. “They’ll grow up ‘til 80 (to) 90 years. They’ll mature in about 20 years, but just keep on growing.”

Bullard will join a group of 70 other Texas cities, including Tyler, that are Tree Cities USA.

“This will go hand-in-hand with other projects for beautifying Bullard,” said Mayor Teresa Adams-Wilks.

The remaining 15 Shumard Red Oaks will be planted at an undecided date, said Bullard Rotary Club President Bob Burnett. An irrigation system is slated to be installed on March 19.

The Rotary Club purchased the 50 trees, will pay for the irrigation system, and is expected to sponsor the initiative for the next five years, he said.

In accordance with Bullard’s proclamation to the Arbor Day Foundation, the city will budget $2 per capita annually to maintain or plant new trees.

About 35 trees, of varying species, will be planted every year, Burnett said. Once the new Chamber of Commerce building is completed in November, trees will be planted around it, he said.

The land in which the trees will be planted on Saturday is being leased from the Texas Department of Transportation for long-term use by the city.

“In the agreement (with TxDOT), we can put down things that can be removed, such as sidewalks and things of that nature,” Morgan said. “We had in mind a trail system at one time.”

In 2006, funding for a trail from the TxDOT Transportation Enhancement Program was pulled, Morgan said.

“It’s still in our minds to do something of that nature,” he said.

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