Central ND News

Since 1976, the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program has been recognizing and supporting cities that prioritize urban forestry, offering benefits such as increased community pride and public awareness. The program has empowered over 3,500 cities across the United States to enhance urban tree cover, from small towns like Sibley, North Dakota, to large metropolitan areas like New York City.

To earn the Tree City USA designation, communities must maintain a tree board or department, have a community tree ordinance, and spend a minimum of $2 per capita on urban forestry, in addition to commemorating Arbor Day. These efforts not only enhance the visual beauty of cities but also contribute significantly to health, safety, and economic improvements.

North Dakota is home to 50 Tree City USA communities, with five also earning a Growth Award. The state has also recognized four educational institutions with the Tree Campus Higher Education Award: Dakota College at Bottineau, North Dakota State University, United Tribes Technical College, and the University of North Dakota.

The benefits of being designated as a Tree City USA include receiving recognition and rewards for urban forestry practices, access to educational resources, and increased grant scoring potential. Additionally, the Community Family Forest grant awards are increased by $500 for recognized communities.

Beth Reiser, the Gackle Park Board President, shared her pride in Gackle becoming a Tree City USA in 2024. "Pride is the best word that describes on how we feel about our beautiful little town becoming a Tree City USA community," stated Reiser. She highlighted the community's efforts in hosting pruning classes, distributing trees for Arbor Day, and planting 55 trees across parks in the town.

For those interested in participating, the Arbor Day Foundation provides a Readiness Quiz on their website to guide communities on the steps needed to become eligible for Tree City USA recognition.