Urban Canopy Works Celebrates Success

Urban Canopy Works (UCW) has received three prestigious awards.  

First, UCW's Columbus Urban Forest Master Plan, developed in 2020-21 has been given two awards:

• UCW Receives 2021 APA OH for Award for Best Practice.  Rachel's work leading the Columbus Urban Forestry Master Plan project as led to UCW being awarded the Best Practice Award from the American Planning Association (APA) Ohio.  This award was given to a project with high scores in innovation, transferability, overall quality, implementation, relevance, and community interaction.   APA said in a recent press release, “The Columbus Urban Forestry Master Plan serves as a blueprint to improve Columbus residents' quality of life through investment in urban trees.” 
  
  Rachel noted this urban forestry master plan is the first of its kind in Columbus, and has created real momentum for change. “It’s the first-time city council, city staff, community members, and people from around the region came together to learn about urban forestry and work collaboratively. They helped determine what Columbus already has, and what it needs, and broadened the understanding of why trees in cities are so critical to healthy communities. City officials say, “Our tree canopy is vulnerable to threats from disease, pests, the changing climate and increased development.” As a result of the plan, the city council is allocating the funds needed to implement, which includes hiring a senior level urban forester to manage the many implementation steps involved. Urban Canopy Works is thrilled with all the good things that are happening as a result of the Columbus Urban Forestry Master Plan!
  
  
• UCW Receives 2021 ASLA Award of Honor in Planning + Analysis.  The Columbus  Urban Forest Master Plan project was also awarded an Honor Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) Ohio. The award recognizes Designing Local, Urban Canopy Works, and Davey Resource Group in the category of Planning + Analysis. 

Principal Jenny Gulick received the President’s Award from the Professional Grounds Management Society (PGMS).  The President of PGMS presents an award to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to PGMS or the grounds management profession. In this case, Jenny was awarded for doing both. She has been the PGMS Greater Cincinnati Branch President for over 15 years, participated on numerous PGMS committees, and most recently served two terms on the Board as a Director-At-Large. PGMS describes Jenney as “an engaged leader who is passionate about arboriculture as well as the green industry as a whole.” Over the course of Jenny’s career, she has provided leadership and technical guidance to a wide variety of national, regional, and local organizations, such as ISA, APWA, and the Kentucky Division of Forestry, to help promote urban forestry and elevate the people and programs that manage and protect our forest resources. Jenny says, “I’m pleased to receive this honor and am grateful for the opportunity to offer my experience and leadership to such a great organization.”

​Congratulations to Rachel and Jenny on receiving these awards!

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