Upon taking office in January, Mayor David Morris continued a project started under the leadership of former Mayor Belinda LaForce, to have Searcy named a Tree City USA. In 2010, the City Council adopted a Tree Ordinance and appointed the members of a Tree Board, which will work to enhance the tree coverage within the city.

Work has begun by the Board, which is made up of nine members: Richard Stafford, Steve Saunders,  Freda Morgan, Sue Ekdahl, Dennis Organ, Mike Cleveland, Matt LaForce, Charlie Goff, and Patsy Pipkin along with Kenneth Coley, frin the Arkansas Forestry Commission, and Sherry Sanders, with the White County Extension Office.

In 2012, the City of Searcy became a Tree City and has resubmitted an application for 2013.
 
The Arkansas Forestry Commission has designated the Deodar Cedar located at the southwest corner of the White County Courthouse as an Arkansas State Champion Tree.  A celebration is being planned for sometime in August at which time a monument will be place at the location. In addition, plans are being made for the city to participate in an Arbor Day Celebration in the fall. The date and place will be made at a later date. The board also plans to have a booth during the Get Down/Downtown Celebration.

The Board is working to establish a speaker’s bureau where local civic clubs can obtain the names of people who will be available to discuss the Arkansas Tree City USA goals and objectives, and learn what it means to the community for Searcy to participate in this effort.

Helpful links:
www.arkforests.org
www.arkansasgrove.org
www.arkansastrees.org
www.urbanforestrysouth.org
www.nationaltreepreservation.com
For the children: www.discovertheforest.org