Enhancing Your Community with the Tree City USA Program

As cities across Kentucky continually strive to enhance the quality of life for their residents, one program that offers lasting benefits is Tree City USA. This national program, which currently recognizes 35 communities across Kentucky, promotes the care and management of public trees. Managed by the Arbor Day Foundation, Tree City USA provides a framework for urban forestry management, bringing numerous advantages to participating cities.

What is Tree City USA?

Tree City USA is a nationwide initiative that helps communities manage and expand their public trees. A city must meet four core standards to qualify:

1. Maintain a tree board or department;
2. Implement a public tree care ordinance;
3. Spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and related programs; and 
4. Hold an annual Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

The program is more than just a recognition; it’s a commitment to enhancing the community environment. Communities that achieve Tree City USA status benefit from a healthier, more sustainable urban forest, contributing to cleaner air, cooler temperatures, and improved public health.

Why Should Kentucky Communities Become a Tree City USA?

For Kentucky cities, joining the ranks of Tree City USA offers significant rewards. Trees are not just aesthetic assets; they are crucial for environmental, economic, and social well-being. Participating in Tree City USA can help your community:

1. Improve Public Health and Safety: Trees reduce pollution, provide shade, and improve air quality.
2. Enhance Property Values and Business Appeal: Well-maintained trees can increase property values by up to 15% and make commercial areas more attractive to customers. Businesses and homeowners alike benefit from the beautification that comes with well-managed community trees.
3. Strengthen Community Engagement: Achieving Tree City USA status involves the entire community. Annual Arbor Day celebrations and tree-planting events foster civic pride and encourage residents to take an active role in preserving their environment.
4. Access to Resources and Funding: Tree City USA designation can make your community eligible for various grants and technical support from the state and federal levels. It also demonstrates your commitment to sustainable practices, which can be advantageous in securing funding for other environmental projects.

Support from the Kentucky Division of Forestry

The Kentucky Division of Forestry (KDF) assists communities in their journey toward becoming a Tree City USA. KDF offers a range of services to support urban forestry efforts at no cost to communities, including:

• Tree Planting Events: Whether you want to revitalize a park or enhance streetscapes, KDF can help organize and execute tree-planting events that align with your city’s goals.
• Community Tree Assessments: KDF can do a limited community tree assessment of your town. This service helps catalog important community trees and identify high-risk public trees that could threaten private property and public safety. With this information, your city can make informed decisions in managing your community trees and improving public safety.

Getting Started

Becoming a Tree City USA is a powerful way to show your community’s commitment to sustainability, public health, and quality of life. If your city is interested in pursuing Tree City USA status or simply wants to enhance its urban forestry efforts, the Kentucky Division of Forestry is available to help.

For more information or to explore how KDF can assist your community, please contact Jack Baggett, Kentucky Division of Forestry Urban and Community Forestry Coordinator, at john.baggett@ky.gov.