Arbor Day Foundation Names Ponca City Tree City USA

Ponca City, Oklahoma was named a 2020 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation  in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management.

Ponca City achieved Tree City USA recognition  by meeting the program’s four requirements:  a tree board or department,  a tree care ordinance, an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance  and proclamation.

“Tree City USA communities  see the impact an urban forest has in a community  first hand,” said Dan Lambe, president  of the Arbor Day Foundation.  “The trees being planted  and cared for by Ponca City are ensuring that generations  to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation  in this program brings residents together and creates  a sense of civic pride, whether it’s through volunteer  engagement  or public education.”

If ever there was a time for trees, now is that time.  Communities worldwide  are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being,  energy use, and protection from extreme heat and flooding.  The Arbor Day Foundation recently launched the Time for Trees initiative to address these issues, with unprecedented goals of planting  100 million trees in forests and communities  and inspiring 5 million tree planters by 2022.  With Tree City USA recognition, Ponca City has demonstrated  a commitment to effective  urban forest management and doing its part to help address these challenges for Ponca City residents  now and in the future.

More information  on the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.