Fort Thomas is known as a “city of trees.” At the September city council meeting, the city honored a person who has contributed greatly to that designation.
Mayor Eric Haas read a proclamation establishing “Mark Leopold Day” on Sept. 19, 2022, to thank and honor Mark Leopold, who is retiring from the city’s Tree Commission.
The proclamation reads in part, “We are gathered here today to honor Mark Leopold for his volunteerism, devotion and work on the Fort Thomas Tree Commission and his extensive dedication to the fight to preserve our forests and streams…Mark was the principal individual leading stream and forest restoration in Tower Park and many other projects in Northern Kentucky.”
A career protecting natural resources
Leopold is a Fort Thomas native and a graduate of St. Thomas High School and earned a degree in agronomy from the University of Kentucky. He worked as an agricultural extension agent in McCreary and Robertson counties for more than 20 years. Upon returning to Fort Thomas, he joined the Center for Applied Ecology at Northern Kentucky University serving as its agriculture and natural resource specialist.
A leader in the field of conservation, Leopold volunteered with and supported several organizations and projects devoted to protecting the area’s trees and vegetation, including a decade serving as the sample and county coordinator with the Licking River Watershed Watch and 23 years with the Northern Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Council.
He has been a board member for the Fort Thomas Forest Conservancy serving as chairman of the Land Protection and Stewardship Committee and technical advisor for the Native Garden, Invasive Plant Eradication and Conservation Easement program.
A deep appreciation
Haas presented Leopold with the proclamation and a clock for his retirement. He also received a standing ovation from all present.
“Thank you for everything you’ve done for the city,” Haas told Leopold.
Noting the extensive list of his contributions outlined in the proclamation, the mayor said, “all the things you’ve done throughout your career is absolutely amazing. We have definitely benefitted in the city from that.”