Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
New Rockford was named a 2017 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of it decades-long commitment to effective urban forest management.
According to City Auditor George Ritzke, this is the 27th year that the city has achieved Tree City USA designation. There are four requirements that cities need to meet in order to earn the designation: 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. “Additionally, recognition brings residents together and creates a sense of community pride, whether it’s through volunteer engagement or public education.”
Trees provide multiple benefits to a community when properly planted and maintained. They help to improve the visual appeal of a neighborhood, increase property values, reduce home cooling costs, remove air pollutants and provide wildlife habitat, among many other benefits.
More information is available on the program at arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.
