|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The Palm Park neighborhood is a little greener this month after 31 trees were planted along Ebener and Grand streets in celebration of Redwood City’s 40-year commitment to preserving and maintaining an urban tree canopy.
“The nonprofit CityTrees and Redwood City’s Department of Public Works are celebrating their 40-year designation as 'Tree City USA' by the Arbor Day Foundation,” said Georgi LaBerge, CityTrees board member, in an email.
To earn the designation of Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation, the city must meet the following criteria:
- Establish a tree board or department
- Develop and maintain a tree care ordinance
- Develop a community Forestry Program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita
- Hold an annual Arbor day celebration
The designation aims to encourage the growth of the urban forest through planting, maintenance and support policy.
Redwood City is one of the longest-tenured members of the Arbor Day Foundation in San Mateo County. In California, San Diego takes the top spot with 45 years. More than 100,000 trees have been planted in the state, and about $167 million has been spent on urban forestry, according to the Arbor Day Foundation Program, which tracks Tree Cities nationwide. New York City is the largest Tree City in the country.
CityTrees is a volunteer-run, nonprofit organization. The organization has fostered a strong relationship with Redwood City’s public works department, which assists the organization in planting and pruning trees on city-owned property.
The nonprofit also provides educational programs and events, such as school plantings, tree walks, demonstration plantings, pruning seminars, and a hands-on urban forestry program for middle school students.
For more information, click here.
