Kansas Forest Service

Tree City USA

Tree City USA is a national program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation and administered in Kansas by the Kansas Forest Service. Tree City USA recognizes towns that have organized community forestry programs supported by municipal ordinance that meet four program standards.

• A Tree Board or Department - The community has a board, commission or department with legal responsibility for the care of public trees and authority to develop and administer a community tree management program.

• A Community Tree Ordinance - A municipal tree ordinance regulates and establishes authority for tree planting, maintenance, protection and removal.

• A Community Forestry Budget of at least $2 per Capita - Evidence is required that the community has established a community forestry program that is supported by an annual budget of at least $2 per capita. The budget should address the needs of species diversity, planting and removal needs, hazardous trees, insect and disease problems and establish a pattern of regular tree care such as pruning and watering.

• An Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation - The community issues a mayoral (or equivalent) Arbor Day proclamation and sponsors or participates in an Arbor Day observance. You can learn more about Arbor Day here or read about the History of Arbor Day. 

The Tree City USA program has successfully provided an increasing number of Kansas communities with benefits inherent with being recognized. In doing so, the program has reached an all-time high in regards to major accomplishments.