This year Missouri will support the Arbor Day Foundation's program Tree City USA as they celebrate their 40th year helping communities like ours achieve sustainable community forests. This program has been helping cities "Go Green" across America since 1976. It is a nation wide movement that provides the framework necessary for communities to care for and expand their public trees.
To be accepted into the program, the city must meet four national standards: form a tree board or department, adopt a tree ordinance, expend at least $2 per capita on the planting and care of city trees, and observe and proclaim Arbor Day.
In Missouri 88 communities participated in the Tree City USA program, Kansas City being one of the largest participating city and Augusta with a population of 225, being the smallest.
Missouri's goal with the program is to help the public understand how trees work for Missourians.
Here are some examples:
- Trees contribute positive energy to our downtown. Studies show people spend 12% more in downtowns with trees. They also shop for longer time periods and come back more frequently.
- Greener areas have half as many crimes as areas with no trees. People report feeling safer in communities filled with trees.
- Recovering surgery patients with a view of our "City within a forest", as opposed to a brick wall, require fewer pain relievers and leave the hospital a day sooner.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the national program, the Department set a new goal to add 40 additional communities to the program over the next 5 years. Is your community part of Tree City USA? Your community can join the program at on.mo.gov/1RaNZ6Y
