HSCBA

Award Presented for Outstanding Care of Trees

US 54 Ramp Project Chair To Receive Award

The Missouri Department of Conservation announced their Arbor Awards of Excellence for 2012. Among the winners is US 54 Ramp Project Chair and designer, Denise Oxley. The award nomination was submitted to the Forestry Division of the Missouri Department of Conservation by the City of Holts Summit. This was a state-wide competition. The award will be presented at the Missouri Community Forestry Council’s annual conference on March 7, 2012 in Blue Springs, Missouri.

The criteria for the award is to have a positive impact in community forestry. The ramp project planted nine trees on each of the eight US exit/entrance ramps in addition to over 70 shrubs per ramp. Trees were also planted in Hibernia Station Park to compliment the plantings along the highway.

Denise Oxley was nominated by the City of Holts Summit for this award. City Administrator, Brian Crane says, “The City of Holts Summit is excited to learn that the Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence has been awarded to Holts Summit resident Denise Oxley and the HSCBA for their work in the City of Holts Summit on the Hibernia Station Park and Highway 54 Ramp Beautification Projects. This community partnership project was such a great success that the City of Holts Summit felt compelled to recognize and submit Denise’s name for her work on this project. The City hopes to continue its efforts with partnership projects which will enhance the quality of life for the citizens of Holts Summit.”

The ramp project was, and continues to be, a community-wide project. (See Fall 2011 Newsletter, page 19, at newsletter\HSCBA Fall News 19.pdf for a listing of project participants) The nomination documents stressed the cooperation from the many government agencies, private businesses and individuals it took to make the project work. Both the Missouri Department of Transportation and the City of Holts Summit had to approve the project and HSCBA signed contracts as well. Private funding from ramp sponsors was obtained and planting and all maintenance is done by volunteers under Denise Oxley’s direction. (Please wave when you see her on her John Deere!) Signs acknowledging the sponsors were installed this past December by MODOT.

When reached for comment, Denise Oxley stated, “When I started this project, I did not expect anything in return. My goal was to help Holts Summit economically by attracting people who would normally pass right by or stop here for fuel and food, and to make our community stand out to be a more peaceful place for our citizens to come home to. Plants have a very positive effect on people but they also contribute to our environment turning rainwater into oxygen. I am very honored to be the recipient of the Missouri Arbor Award of Excellence. However, I would not be receiving this award if it were not for Pam Murray, Heather Vodnansky, HSCBA, the City of Holts Summit, MODOT and all of our sponsors and volunteers that made this possible. We are very fortunate that we live in such a giving community.”