Eielson designated Tree City USA 20 consecutive years

Published May 21, 2013
By Senior Airman Zachary Perras
354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- On Jan. 12, 1994, Eielson Air Force Base became the first Alaskan community to be named as a Tree City USA. Now, nearly 20 years later, the base has maintained the honor and has held its title each year since then.

Tom Slater, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron natural resources outdoor recreation planner, started the project with a coworker after then Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Merrill McPeak issued a memorandum in Feb. 1993 that all Air Force bases achieve Tree City USA designation by 1994.

For Slater, this meant turning Eielson from a base with hardly any landscaped trees to a place that felt more alive and pleasant.

"When I drove to Eielson 29 years ago, you could count the number of landscaped trees on one hand," he explained. "The base was very sterile-looking because it had very few trees."

In order to achieve Tree City status, four standards established by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters had to be met.

First, the location must have an established Tree Board or Department. Second, a Tree Care Ordinance to provide clear guidance for planting, maintaining and removing trees. Third, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita must be set. Lastly, there must be an organized Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

In 1993, all Eielson had to do was have an Arbor Day celebration. After that happened, the Tree City USA application was submitted and the rest, Slater said, is history.

For 20 years running, Eielson has remained on the Tree City USA list. Gaining and retaining this recognition, however, is no simple task.

Slater said that due to the slow rate that trees grow in Alaska, coupled with low survivability rates, being designated as a Tree City is a high honor not easily attained. Even so, the title is worth it.

"Being named Tree City USA and having the distinction of being the first in Alaska has fostered more support for the community forest from the base leaders," Slater said. "To me, all of the trees make the base a much more happy and pleasant place to live."

With 20 years already under his belt, Slater says he plans to continue to keep the program going on Eielson, despite future challenges that may arise.

"Watching the base evolve into the showplace it is now kind of makes me feel like a proud father watching his son grow up," Slater said. "My only regret is that I won't be here 20 years from now to see how some of the trees have grown."