One hundred new trees were added to the Grantsville community forest this fall under the direction of the city's Beautification and Shade Tree Commission. In last four years, as part of the city's Plant A Tree Program, over 700 new trees have been planted in the city.

"We thank the folks in Grantsville for their continued and enthusiastic desire to plant more trees," said Darsi Fouillade, tree commission chair.

Under the program, the city buys trees and sells them to residents for $75. If the tree is planted in a park strip next to a street, the city will pay for half of the cost of the tree.

The streets of Grantsville were once lined with stately Lombardy poplar trees that were planted in the irrigation ditches on the sides of the streets. The beautiful poplars began to wither and die when the irrigation ditches ran dry following the installation of modern pressurized pipes and sprinklers for irrigation, according to Gary Fawson, Grantsville City Planning Commission chair and a member of the tree commission.

"A beautiful community setting makes it easier to attract new residents, businesses and industry, thus making for an economically viable community as well," said Fawson.

Aside from the aesthetic value of trees, Fawson lists several benefits of tree planting including moderating temperatures, releasing oxygen into the atmosphere, acting as a wind break, increasing property values, and decreasing street maintenance costs by keeping asphalt cool.

The tree planting program and the volunteers on the tree commission have helped Grantsville City earn the National Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA designation for four years.

"The planting of street trees may be the quickest and most effective way of changing the overall beauty and feel of our community," added Fawson.

Tim Gillie: tgillie@tooeletranscript.com