At a public meeting held before the town council, the forester showed slides from other street tree programs to dramatize the benefits of planning. The council responded by revitalizing the Dover shade tree commission and appropriating a small budget toward its work. During an organizational meeting of the shade tree commission, the urban forester emphasized that success depended on completion of a worthy project. The commission decided to replant a major city street following a massive sewer project. The new tree s were a dramatic start to the planting program.
Residents now request trees on the streets in their own neighborhoods.
To draw more support from residents, the urban forester suggested an Arbor Day celebration. The commission solicited donations from civic groups to provide all first-graders with a seedling to plant at home. A city Arbor Day award was presented to a local resident who beautified his lawn by planting trees. The local press helped solicit nominations and publicized the winner. Sugarcreek News of these events spread to nearby towns.