The Borough of Allentown is home to an assortment of trees and green spaces, many of which have grown and flourished for more than a century. While many towns actively value their historic architecture, fewer take similar action when it comes to protecting and identifying landmark trees. This natural abundance is a recognized and valued asset of the Borough. To celebrate some of the oldest, most notable and significant of these trees and to highlight the importance of preservation, the Allentown Shade Tree Commission has established a Notable Tree Program.
Through the Notable Tree Program, we hope to encourage efforts to protect, maintain and preserve the trees that are designated for the program. It's also intended to educate all residents on the importance of a healthy tree population, which contributes to the character and well-being of a community. They also serve as critical habitats for wildlife, improve air quality, increase property value, and provide cooling shade that helps to combat the urban heat island effect.
A Notable Tree is a tree with excellent form and vigor with a well-balanced crown and a trunk that is sound and solid. The tree cannot be dead or dying or overtaken by diseases, pests or vines. It can be on public or private property. No invasive tree species will be classified as a Notable Tree. It should have one or more of the following characteristics.
SIZE: The tree is in the top 10% of tree sizes of its inventoried species in Allentown.
RARITY: It is a one-of-a-kind tree due to species type, characteristic and/or a species of less than 10% of all inventoried trees in Allentown.
HISTORIC OR NOTABLE EVENT: There is a documented association with a historic event of 75 or more years ago and/or a more recent event of notable worth.
SPECIAL ECOLOGICAL VALUE: The tree is shown to provide soil stabilization, an important genetic resource, or offers critical habitat for important plant or animal species.
LOCATION: The tree is considered of public value as a prominent visual focal point as viewed from public streets and right-of-ways.
AESTHETICS: The tree has a distinct or unusually appealing visual characteristic.