The City of Steamboat Springs was named as a 2019 Tree City USA recipient by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. This marks the 28th consecutive year that the city has been awarded this recognition.
“Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Additionally, recognition brings residents together and creates a sense of community pride, whether it’s through volunteer engagement or public education.”
The Tree City USA program has been greening up cities and towns across America since 1976. It is a nationwide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees.
More than 3,400 communities have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA. They have achieved this status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.
Parks & Recreation, oversees the city’s $30,000 forestry program, taking care of more than 500 trees in streets, medians and right-of-ways and more than 2,500 trees in city parks and facilities. In addition, the city supports Arbor Day activities such as Re-Tree Steamboat Springs with the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Colorado State Forest Service and other volunteer civic groups throughout the year.
Out of the nearly 100 municipalities recognized in Colorado, 51 have reached this milestone for 27 or more years, including Steamboat Springs, now in its 28th consecutive year. This past May, City Council celebrated Arbor Day in the Steamboat Springs with a proclamation honoring the occasion.
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Contact
Ernie Jenkins, Parks Supervisor, 970.879.4300 or email