For the fifteenth year, the Arbor Day Foundation has recognized the Town of Irmo as a Tree City USA for 2025, underscoring the town’s sustained dedication to urban forestry. This designation celebrates Irmo’s ongoing efforts to cultivate and care for its tree canopy, a commitment that yields significant benefits for the local community. The award was formally presented to Whitt Cline, the Public Service Director for the Town of Irmo, by Francis Waites and Lowe Sharpe, representatives of the South Carolina Forestry Commission, highlighting the collaborative partnership between the town and the state in promoting responsible tree management.
The Tree City USA program provides a framework for communities to manage and expand their public trees. To achieve this recognition, Irmo has met four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department responsible for tree care, enacting a community tree ordinance to guide tree planting and protection, allocating an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per resident, and celebrating Arbor Day with a community-wide tree planting and education program. This consistent adherence to these standards for fifteen years demonstrates Irmo’s long-term vision for a greener and healthier environment.
