MILTON, Ga., Oct. 29, 2013 - At its 23rd Annual Awards Ceremony in October, the Georgia Urban Forest Council gave the City of Milton the "Outstanding Community Grand Award" for its work in adopting a Tree Inventory, Assessment and Management Plan in late 2012.

With the award the Urban Forest Council, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sustaining Georgia's green legacy by helping communities grow healthy trees, highlighted Milton's efforts to maintain and protect its natural and forested areas.

"This is a great honor and a fantastic payoff for our hours of hard work aimed at keeping Milton green and beautiful," said Principal Planner Michele McIntosh-Ross, who worked on the plan with City Arborist Mark Law and consultants from the Davey Resource Group.

The Milton Tree Inventory, Assessment and Management Plan focused its inventory of targeted high-use areas along public rights-of-way and in parks which included the areas of: Arnold Mill Road/Ga. 140; Crabapple; Ga. 9/Cogburn Road; Bell Memorial Park; Bethwell Community Center; Birmingham Park; and Hopewell House.

In total, 3,598 sites collectively representing more than 10,000 trees were collected during the inventory.

These projects were funded by the Georgia Forestry Commission's Urban and Community Forestry Grant Program administered by the Georgia Forestry Commission.

Incorporated on Dec. 1, 2006, the City of Milton has been recognized for having the highest quality of life in the state of Georgia and ninth-highest in the southern United States by the Business Journals' "On Numbers" survey. It is a distinctive community that embraces small-town life and heritage while preserving and enhancing the city's rural character. The City of Milton will provide opportunity and value in a responsive and responsible environment through active partnerships with the community and its stakeholders. For more information, visit www.cityofmiltonga.us, or call 678-242-2500.

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