The City of Somerville was named a 2019 Tree City USA award winner for the 25th time by the Arbor Day Foundation in recognition of the city’s commitment to urban forest management. The city also received its fifth Tree City USA Growth Award for showing environmental improvement and a higher level of tree care.

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

“I’m proud that we’ve continued to invest in both protecting the trees we have and adding to our tree canopy every year,” said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. “Trees aren’t only a quality of life issue; they are crucial in our efforts to fight and mitigate climate change.”

In 2019 the city took several steps to expand its existing tree canopy and protect existing trees including planting 378 trees citywide, completing a new tree inventory, and adopting changes to the tree preservation ordinance including protections for private trees.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, the U.S. Forest Service, and the National Association of State Foresters. More information about the program is available at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.