Oklahoma City was named a 2021 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to supporting a community that places value on the planting and caring of trees.
The Tree City USA program provides the framework for community forestry management across the United States. Oklahoma City is among 24 distinguished Oklahoma communities to achieve this status by meeting core standards of sound urban forestry tree care.
In honor of Arbor Day, April 29, the Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation Department will plant three Bald Cypress trees at E.W. Perry Park, NE 48 and Prospect.
Oklahoma City 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.
“Tree City USA communities benefit from the positive effects that an urban tree canopy has year after year,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation.
The OKC Parks & Recreation Department manages over 20,169 trees. According to a forestry management software, the trees supported by the OKC Parks & Recreation Department provide over $1M annually in ecological benefits to the community.
“Trees play a vital role by cooling our city, cleaning our air, providing habitats that encourage biodiversity, but they also create places that promote exploration, growth and recreation,” said Scott Fairman, assistant director of the OKC Parks & Recreation Department.
The Arbor Day Foundation estimates trees reduce costs for energy consumption, stormwater management and erosion control, providing value up to five times more than the cost of a tree. Shade from trees planted around buildings, for example, can reduce energy consumption by up to 25 percent.
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Media Contact:
Robert Culverhouse, Parks and Recreation
(405) 206-5313
robert.culverhouse@okc.gov
