CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - For the third year in a row, the City of Citrus Heights has been named a “Tree City USA” by the Arbor Day Foundation, in honor of the City’s ongoing commitment to effective urban forest management. 

Citrus Heights achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting four requirements set by the Arbor Day Foundation, including having 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.

“Receiving Tree City USA recognition is a goal that started back in 2015, but as a City we’ve been focused on planting and preserving trees in our community since inception,” said Citrus Heights Mayor Steve Miller. “In fact, over the last three years alone, the City of Citrus Heights has overseen the planting of more than 300 oak trees within our public parks through community planting events. It is an honor to see those efforts recognized through the Tree City USA designation.”

The City of Citrus Heights will be honoring Arbor Day the week of March 7-14 on social media, and encouraging the community to participate in National Plant a Tree Day on April 10 while staying safe and minimizing the impacts of COVID-19 on our City. 

The Arbor Day Foundation is a conservation and educational non-profit, with more than a million members. The organization's mission is to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They want to educate people to know the benefits of having, maintaining, and planting trees in their communities. Trees 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.