The City of Novi’s “Sterling” urban forestry program has become one of just six in Michigan recognized for 10 years of growth. For Novi’s urban forestry efforts in 2019, the City earned its 28th Tree City USA (TCUSA) designation and 10th Growth Award. Having attained 10 Growth Awards, Novi has earned the status of “Sterling Tree City USA.” According to the Arbor Day Foundation, the organization that awards TCUSA and Growth Award honors, there were only five Sterling Tree Cities in the state of Michigan and just 402 across the entire United States as of 2018. Novi became the sixth Sterling Tree City in the state in 2019.

To earn a Tree City USA accreditation, a City must meet the following standards:
1. A Tree Board or Department that’s legally responsible for the care of all trees on public property must be in place.
2. A basic tree care ordinance must be in place.
3. The community’s forestry program must have an annual budget of at least $2 per capita.
4. Communities must host an annual Arbor Day observance event and an official Arbor Day proclamation must be passed by public officials.

The City earned its 2019 Growth Award due to the significant increase in allocated tree maintenance funding and the city forester attaining an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist accreditation. The additional funding for routine tree maintenance allows the City of Novi to continuously prune City-owned street trees in subdivisions. This preventative maintenance encourages healthy and strong growth form, eliminates hazardous deadwood and assures adequate height clearance and sight distance for safe travel along roads and walkways. Novi’s urban forest includes more than 39,000 trees along streets, in parks and around City facilities. There have been 1,944 new trees and hundreds of new shrubs planted within the last five years as part of the City’s twice-annual planting project.