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VALLEY — A good turnout was on hand for Saturday’s annual tree giveaway at Valley City Hall. A total of 600 ready-to-plant trees were given away by the Valley Tree Board. Valley has been a member of Tree City USA since its incorporation in 1980. Every year since then there’s been a distribution of small trees from a nursery in observance of Arbor Day. For Saturday’s 44th distribution to Valley residents, City of Valley employees assisted in giving out the trees to a long line of city residents who were there for the 8 a.m. distribution. The trees were provided by Ponder’s Nursery and were given out from several Public Works Department trailers. The trees were given out on the south side of city hall. At one time, the line wrapped around the front of city hall to the north side of the building.

Six varieties were distributed on Saturday. They included 100 turkey figs, 100 Texas figs, 100 white dogwoods, 100 pink dogwoods, and 100 white crepe myrtles.

“We were well pleased with the turnout we’ve received this morning,” said Valley Tree Board President Suzie Britt. “We didn’t know if the heavy rain we received overnight would affect the number of people coming out. Fortunately, the weather cleared and it looks like we’re going to have good weather this weekend.”

Tree City USA was founded in 1976 and has grown into one of the Arbor Day Foundation’s largest programs. There are more than 3,600 Tree City USA members scattered throughout all 50 states. Valley is one of nearly 80 Alabama cities in the program.

There are four requirements in being a Tree City USA member: (1) to have a tree board or department, (2) to have a city or community tree ordinance, (3) to spend at least $2 per person on urban forestry and (4) to celebrate Arbor Day.

The crepe myrtles along Fob James Drive are an example of the work done over the years by the city and its tree board.

Once the line started moving at 8 a.m., the trees were given out fairly quickly. It took less than 30 minutes to give them all out. Anyone getting there past 8:30 was out of luck.

“We want to thank the city for its continued support over a long period of time,” Britt said. “We also want to thank Patrick Bolt and the employees of his department for helping us give out the trees this morning. We also want to thank Ponder’s Nursery for the important role they play in this every year. We especially want to thank this big crowd of Valley residents for turning out today and their interest in making their yards and this city a more attractive place.”