Arbor Day Foundation Recognizes Waltham As Tree City USA

WALTHAM, MA — The Arbor Day Foundation, the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, has named Waltham a 2021 Tree City USA in honor of the city’s commitment to effective urban forest management.

Waltham 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 observing and proclaiming Arbor Day.

“Tree City USA communities benefit from the positive effects that an urban tree canopy has year after year,” Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation, said in a statement. “The trees being planted and cared for by Waltham ensure that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life. Additionally, participation in this program helps cultivate a sense of stewardship and pride for the trees the community plants and cares for.”

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, planting trees in an urban space comes with a myriad of benefits, including reducing energy consumption by up to 25 percent, which will reduce general energy costs and help with the overall cooling of the city.

In addition, community members benefit from properly placed trees, as they increase property values from seven to 20 percent. Trees also positively affect the local ecosystem by helping to clean water and create animal habitats to encourage biodiversity.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. For more information, click here.