Distinction recognizes the municipality’s commitment to maintaining healthy tree canopy
The City of Sarasota has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the 3nd year in a row, the city has announced.
“The 2017 Tree City USA award recognizes the City’s commitment to maintaining and expanding a healthy tree canopy in Sarasota,” a news release points out.
Sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, the Tree City USA Program honors more than 3,400 cities with the distinction based on four requirements, the release adds: The city must have (1) a tree board or department, (2) a tree care ordinance, (3) an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and (4) an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
“The City of Sarasota meets those requirements and goes beyond them, supporting innovative programs such as the Community Canopy Project, offering trees to residents at no cost, the release notes.
“In the end, maintaining a healthy tree line not only improves the visual appeal of the City’s neighborhoods, but it also increases property values, decreases energy bills and protects the environment, the release adds.
For more information about the Arbor Day Foundation program, visit www.ArborDay.org/TreeCityUSA.