Oklahoma City Beautiful and Southern Tree Preservation is planning a pine tree removal day for January 28. Pine wilt has been spreading around our city and killing non-native pines at an alarming rate. The blight can only be stopped by cutting down the pines that are sustaining the nematodes (the cause of the disease).

Lisa Synar, OKC Beautiful Executive Director, said “Last year was great, we removed 46 trees! This year we hope to get to even more. We are so happy to be able to provide this service to Oklahoma City.”

From 8 a.m. till 5 p.m., arborists will cut the trees and volunteers will pull the branches to the curb. Once the branches are at the curb, the City will pick them up and burn them.

In order to make the Pine Tree Removal more successful, volunteers are heavily needed. For more information about this event or to volunteer, please call Lauren Dennison at 525-8822 or e-mail lauren@okcbeautiful.com

For More Information Contact:
Lauren Dennison at OKC Beautiful
lauren@okcbeautiful.com
Office: 405-525-8822
Fax: 405-525-8826

Information about Pine Wilt
Information and online application form available here.

Local Firefighters are partnering with Liberty Mutual to help families live safer, more secure lives.  They believe the more you know about home fire hazards and the steps you can take to prevent home fires, the safer both your family and our community will be.

The Fire Safety Pledge program is your chance to give back to the brave men and women of your local fire department who tirelessly work to protect your community.  Each fall, Liberty Mutual offers $10,000 awards to fire departments where community members demonstrate their commitment to fire safety.

If granted, our Fire Department will use these funds to purchase and provide smoke alarms to individuals who cannot afford to equip their household with a working device.

Simply Log on to www.befiresmart.com and take the quiz, then credit the Oklahoma City Fire Department with the contact.

Thank you for your assistance in  this effort.

The Pledge program is now open - through October 31st.

Oklahoma City is developing a new comprehensive plan, called planokc. It is a long-range plan with the goal of ensuring a healthy environment, community, and economy for our residents. planokc is for the entire city – all 621 square miles. There are nine elements of planokc: Sustain, Connect, Green, Live, Enrich, Play, Strengthen, Serve, and Go.

A Citizen Advisory Team is being formed to assist with the development of planokc. Applications will be accepted through Thursday, November 10, 2011. The Mayor will appoint 25 members to represent a cross-section of interests across the community. You may apply to represent any of the eight planokc elements, the Healthy Communities Oversight Group, the development sector, public schools, or the community at large. Additionally, members of Planning Commission and City Council will represent each Ward on the Citizen Advisory Team.

The Citizen Advisory Team will provide advice at key junctures in the planning process, overseeing the collective work done by stakeholder groups. The Team is expected to meet approximately 15 times during the development of the plan. The plan is anticipated to be complete in 2013.

If you are interested in applying or know someone who is, please visit www.planokc.org or click here to fill out an application. You may also call 297-2283 to have one mailed to you.

The City of Oklahoma City, in partnership with the Tree Bank Foundation, is making 1,000 free trees available to citizens as part of the “Great OKC Tree Give-Away.”

Residents who want a free tree must pre-register. Registration begins at 9 a.m. on Thursday, October 6. There are two ways to register:

1. Log on to www.okc.gov/releaf  and click on the registration link.
2. Call 405-604-0041

Only those citizens living inside the corporate limits of Oklahoma City are eligible to receive a free tree. This includes residents who are served by Oklahoma City Police and/or Fire. Having an Oklahoma City utilities bill is not a sole qualifier. The program is open to private residences only, and there is a limit of one tree per household.

Distribution will take place on Saturday, October 29 at the OSU-OKC Physical Plant, 930 North Portland Avenue.  Residents picking up their trees must bring their registration confirmation card.

This is the fifth time the Tree Bank and the City have teamed up for the effort, and to date, over 4,500 free trees have been distributed to Oklahoma City citizens. Funding for the program is provided through a grant from the Houston-based Apache Foundation.

For complete program details, including a list of the tree types available, citizens may visit online at www.okc.gov/releaf, or call 405-604-0041.

2011 April Newsletter

2010 August Newsletter

2010 March Newsletter

2009 October Newsletter

2009 February Newsletter

2008 October Newsletter