Tree City USA Recognizes and Supports Your Tree Program

We all realize the important role trees play in our community. Unfortunately many people do not. The Tree City USA. (TCUSA) award program was initiated by the National Arbor Day Foundation to remedy this by recognizing the effort put forth by communities that properly manage their urban forests.

In 1972 the TCUSA program began when Nebraska's Division of Tourism celebrated its centennial Arbor Day. As a result of this great success, the program went national in 1976 recognizing 42 TCUSA communities, both small and large, for their efforts in proper tree care management. There are now almost 3200 Tree Cities across the country. Wisconsin boasts 174 Tree Cities, ranking us 3rd in the nation! There is also a historic list [PDF 345KB ] of Wisconsin's Tree City USA since 1976.

The Requirements

To receive the Tree City USA award, a community must meet four standards. It must have:

1. A tree board, commission, or municipal department that has legal responsibility for the care of public trees and has the authority to develop and administer a community tree management program.
2. A tree ordinance which identifies authority for public tree management and establishes policies for tree planting, maintenance, and removal.
3. An annual budget for administering, managing, and implementing the community forestry program of at least $2.00 per capita. Funds spent for tree care in various departments as well as volunteer labor and donated supplies and services can be included in the calculation.
4. An arbor day observance and proclamation. This can be as simple as a brief tree planting ceremony or as intricate as a week-long celebration with contests, songs, readings, media involvement, and education programs. The observance can occur at any time of the year. A proclamation by the mayor or city council must accompany the observance.

The Benefits

Communities achieving Tree City status receive a flag, a walnut mounted plaque and special highway entrance signs proclaiming this community a Tree City USA! But the TCUSA designation is more than a flag, signs, and a plaque. It is a feather in your cap that can help sustain or improve a forestry program in these tight economic times.

On May 10, 1990, a devastating snowstorm hit Waukesha. It damaged 60% of the city's street trees, 1,000 trees required removal. City forester Dave Liska approached the city's finance committee for emergency funds. After Liska's presentation the immediate response of the chairperson was, "we are a Tree City USA., we are proud of that designation and we intend to keep it". The vote was unanimous in favor of Dave's request. The point is that the TCUSA designation had a tremendous, positive influence on securing support for Waukesha's urban forestry program.

How to Apply

If you are interested in the Tree City USA program contact your Regional Urban Forestry Coordinator. They can provide you with more information and an application. Completed applications are due to your regional coordinator no later than December 31 of each year. Awards are given during the spring of the year following the completed application date.

Your community may already have met the four standards. If not, your regional coordinator can work with your community to help develop its urban forestry program and soon you too can join the ranks of Wisconsin's Tree Cities!