Shakopee was named a Tree City USA yesterday for the 15th consecutive year by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban management.
Shakopee achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: forming a tree board or department, creating a tree-care ordinance, having an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
“Tree City USA communities see the positive effects of an urban forest firsthand,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The trees being planted and cared for by Shakopee are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life.”
Planting trees in an urban space comes with a myriad of benefits past the recognition of this program. Urban tree plantings help reduce energy consumption by 25%, and members of the community benefit from properly placed trees as they increase their property values from 7-20%.More information on the program is available at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.
