Huntsville honors longtime employee who shaped city’s urban forests

If you’ve ever enjoyed a shady street in Huntsville, you can likely thank Charles “Chuck” Weber, Huntsville’s first city arborist.

Mayor Tommy Battle presented Weber with a proclamation detailing Weber’s contribution and legacy in Huntsville and proclaimed October 13, 2026 as “Charles ‘Chuck’ Weber Day.”

Also, the Huntsville Tree Commission recognized Weber with the Tree Hero Award, honoring his decades of leadership, advocacy and innovation in urban forestry. His contributions helped establish many of the policies and programs that continue to guide Huntsville’s approach to tree preservation and management.

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Chuck Weber honored by City of Huntsville

A longtime public servant and forestry professional, Weber worked for Huntsville’s Public Services Department, later known as Landscape Management, for 22 years.

He also served seven years as Madison County and Regional Urban Forester with the Alabama Forestry Commission, where he developed extensive knowledge of North Alabama’s urban forest and the importance of protecting and managing tree resources.

However, Weber’s most lasting impact began in the late 1970s when Huntsville Beautification Board member John H. Allen recruited him to help develop a tree ordinance for Huntsville.

Working with a committee of local advocates and experts, Weber researched ordinances from communities across the country, tailored recommendations for Huntsville’s needs and helped build support among residents, business leaders and elected officials.

His efforts resulted in the passage of Huntsville’s Tree Management Ordinance in August 1981. He later authored additions to the ordinance that established the Huntsville Tree Commission and the City’s Arborist position, helping create the framework that still guides urban forestry efforts in the city.

“Chuck’s contributions can be seen throughout Huntsville in the trees that shade our neighborhoods, line our roadways and enhance our public spaces. He understood early on that building an urban forest was an investment in Huntsville’s future, and generations of residents continue to benefit from the legacy he planted.”

_{Mayor Tommy Battle}

Weber’s contributions

Weber’s accomplishments include:

• Helped revise the City Tree Ordinance in 2004 to establish standards for commercial tree care services, commercial parking lot landscaping and utility-related tree management
• Introduced the Green Space Planting Agreement program
• Shared Huntsville’s ordinance model with communities including Nashville, Montgomery and Birmingham
• Developed and maintained the City’s urban tree inventory program
• Played a key role in relocating a historic 100-year-old dogwood tree to the Huntsville Botanical Garden
• Co-authored the “Walking Tour of Huntsville Trees” brochure
• Collaborated with City departments to establish a Christmas tree mulching program
• Managed Huntsville’s greenhouse operations, growing trees for planting throughout the city
• Led efforts to replace declining elm trees along Whitesburg Drive with more suitable species
• Helped preserve the historic Memorial red cedars when road improvements threatened their future

“Chuck understood that trees are an investment in a community’s future. The standards, inventory systems and planning strategies he helped establish were ahead of their time.

Every day, our team benefits from the foundation he built and the example he set for urban forestry professionals across Alabama.”

_{Marc Byers, Huntsville city arborist}

The Huntsville Tree Commission established the Tree Hero Award to recognize individuals whose leadership and commitment have made a lasting impact on Huntsville’s urban forest.

Weber follows John H. Allen, the award’s inaugural recipient, whose partnership with Weber helped launch many of the initiatives that continue to shape the city’s landscape today.

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