Lebanon is marking a major milestone this year with the national Tree City USA program of the Arbor Day Foundation.
The Tree City USA program began 46 years ago in 1976. To qualify, a community must maintain a tree board or department, have a tree ordinance, spend at least $2 per person on its urban forest and celebrate Arbor Day.
Sixty-nine Oregon towns and cities are qualified as a Tree City USA, including the return of Reedsport to the program. Lebanon has reached 20 years of Tree City USA status. Sweet Home’s celebrating its 35th year.
Several other cities are also marking milestone anniversaries in the program. Oregon’s second-longest Tree City USA, Portland, is celebrating 45 years with that status. Others include: Eagle, 30; McMinnville, 25; Monmouth, 20; Gervais and Sisters, 15; and Newport, Independence and Oregon City, 10.
The Oregon Department of Forestry administers the Tree City USA program in Oregon on behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation. ODF Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program Manager Kristin Ramstad is gratified to see the engagement in Oregon communities around urban trees.
“The COVID-19 pandemic continued to be very disruptive last year, forcing the cancellation of many in-person events. Despite that, many Oregon cities and towns still accomplished a lot in terms of improving tree care,” she said.
Information: www.arborday.org/programs/treecityusa.