Hot Springs Urban Forester Anthony Whittington was recently appointed to the Arkansas Urban Forestry Council Board of Directors. Of the 14-member board, Whittington is the only urban forester. Whittington also serves on the council’s awards nomination committee. His goal on the board is to plan public workshops and field days, and to increase the engagement of environmental and service groups throughout the state in urban forestry activities. His term on the board expires in June 2019.
The board’s mission is to enhance quality of life by promoting the benefits of trees and development of sustainable, community forests through education, outreach and partnerships.
The City of Hot Springs is one of four Arkansas cities that employ full-time urban foresters, the others being Little Rock, Bentonville and Fayetteville. Whittington holds a bachelor of science degree in recreation and park management from Henderson State University and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in agricultural science from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He brings a total of 12 years’ experience to the City of Hot Springs Public Works Department, where he was hired last June. He formerly served an agricultural extension agent in Jefferson County and as a park interpreter for both Mount Nebo State Park and Lake Ouachita State Park.