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50 Years of Tree City USA: A Legacy Rooted in Community

For 50 years, Tree City USA has empowered communities nationwide to care for trees and one another.

January 30, 2026

A group holds a banner for Arbor Day, featuring mascot characters, while promoting tree conservation in a park setting.

Tree City USA helps communities turn commitment into action — planting trees, building pride, and creating lasting benefits for generations to come. This milestone marks not just how far the program has grown, but how deeply it’s taken root in communities nationwide.

Fifty years ago, a small but mighty idea took root: empower communities of every size to grow stronger, healthier, and more connected through trees. In 1976, the Arbor Day Foundation partnered with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters to launch Tree City USA. That first year, 42 communities across 16 states joined the program — and a national movement was born.

What started as a simple recognition program has become one of America’s most enduring commitments to green, livable cities. For half a century, the Tree City USA program has helped towns, cities, and tribal communities demonstrate their dedication to thoughtful community forestry. From Sibley, North Dakota, to New York City, the message has always been the same: people deserve a place enriched by trees, and trees deserve people who care.

The program’s growth tells a remarkable story of shared effort and long-term vision. By 1993, less than 15 years after its founding, Tree City USA had expanded to all 50 states. Today, over 3,500 communities proudly carry the Tree City USA designation, touching every corner of the country and representing places big and small.

Nearly half of Americans (48%) now live in a recognized Tree City. That reach reflects more than just participation — it reflects a cultural shift. Communities are increasingly recognizing that trees aren’t simply aesthetic amenities; they are essential infrastructure.

As Erica Smith Fitchman, Philadelphia City Forester, said, “Trees are crucial to the livability of our city. People in Philadelphia don’t need to be convinced that trees have value. What they need is trust that we will help them care for them.” ”

That understanding shows up differently in every community, but the results are consistent. Tree City USA communities report stronger civic engagement, deeper partnerships, and a shared sense of pride in the places they call home. Each year, Tree City USA communities collectively plant more than 991,000 trees and log more than 1 million volunteer hours, a testament to how deeply residents care for their communities.

In Wooster, Ohio, that shift has been tangible. Joe Avila, Parks and Urban Forestry Supervisor for the City of Wooster, said, “Since becoming a Tree City USA community, we’ve noticed a tangible increase in public engagement. Residents actively participate in tree plantings, educational programs, and care initiatives. Community perception of our trees has shifted from simply aesthetic value to recognizing trees as essential infrastructure that benefits everyone.”

At its core, Tree City USA is grounded in four foundational standards: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, annual expenditure on community tree care, and an Arbor Day observance. Together, these standards create consistency, accountability, and momentum — ensuring that tree care isn’t a one-time effort, but a lasting commitment.

A group of volunteers plants flowers and shrubs in a landscaped area near a road, with a truck visible in the background.

For many communities, that structure becomes a catalyst for something bigger.

“Being part of the TCUSA program as a city entity has allowed for better care and maintenance of trees throughout our community,” said Patrick Hayes, Parks & Recreation Superintendent for the City of Clay Center, Kansas. “It has created a sense of pride and care for the community that you can see as you pass through our town.”

The program also reinforces the value of long-term thinking, planting and caring for trees today with future generations in mind.

When reflecting on that responsibility, James Wills, Forestry Superintendent for the City of Springfield, Ohio, said, “The benefits of our tree plantings each year are substantial, especially for future generations. How many people can say that they go to work each day and make such a lasting contribution?”

For leaders like Wills, Tree City USA is about honoring those who came before while carrying their vision forward.

“A great man once led the effort to make us part of Tree City USA, and carrying his vision forward is a mighty responsibility, but it is one I am honored and committed to uphold.”

Tree City USA has always been about more than individual communities, it’s about connection. Over 50 years, the program has created a nationwide network of state community foresters, local leaders, urban foresters, volunteers, and advocates who learn from one another and push the work forward together.

“The TCUSA’s 50th anniversary can be summarized in one word: growth,” said Danielle Schumerth, Forestry Outreach Coordinator with the Minneapolis Parks Department. “The Arbor Day Foundation has grown the TCUSA program substantially and it is important to keep the support going. There are many more communities to connect with. TCUSA is the connective tissue that makes this happen.”

A group of people gathers around to plant a small tree, engaged in teamwork and environmental stewardship under a sunny sky.

That connective power has helped communities weather change, leadership transitions, and emerging challenges — from extreme heat to public health concerns — while staying grounded in a shared purpose.

And for many participants, simply being part of something larger matters.

“Just being involved in the Tree City USA program and a Tree City of the World is very rewarding,” said Sheri McMillen, Deputy Clerk for the City of Auburn, Nebraska.

As Tree City USA marks its 50th anniversary, the milestone belongs not just to the program, but to the people who have sustained it — the state community foresters who guide communities, the volunteers who plant, the leaders who advocate, and the neighbors who show up year after year.

“The fact that the program has been around for 50 years shows the commitment and determination by all those involved,” said Patrick Hayes, “and by the Arbor Day Foundation who continue to provide the opportunity to apply and be recognized for all the efforts that go into it.”

Because when people care for trees, communities grow stronger. And for the last 50 years, Tree City USA communities have been proving that truth — one tree, one neighborhood, and one city at a time.