Coeur d’Alene has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation. It is the 25th year Coeur d’Alene has received this national recognition.
Tree City USA recognition must be earned each year. To become a Tree City USA, a community must meet four standards: they must have a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance.
The recognition is for tree planting and care accomplishments carried out in Coeur d’Alene during 2008. Over 1,180 public trees were planted last year, including trees planted at two new parks and within the Ramsey Road swales. Public tree activities also included pruning of trees, removal of dying or dangerous trees, irrigation costs, and providing public tree care information. The citizens of Coeur d’Alene expended nearly $11 per capita on public tree care in 2008, which includes funds from the city budget, grants, in-kind donations, special project funds, and investments by private property owners in street tree planting and care.
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. For more information about tree care, planting street trees, or volunteering for public tree planting projects, contact the city’s Urban Forester, Karen Haskew, at 769-2266. Please watch for news about our Arbor Day Celebration on April 25th!
