CARLSBAD–For the sixth consecutive year, the city of Carlsbad was recognized by the nonprofit Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City USA® community for its commitment to urban forestry. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.
“We have more than 24,000 city trees in Carlsbad beautifying our streets and medians, parks and open space, facilities and trails,” says Parks & Recreation Director John W. Coates. “By responsibly maintaining our urban forest, we are making the city a safer, healthier and ‘greener’ place to live. The care we take is reflected in the most recent citywide survey, in which our parks and trees maintenance division received a 94% customer satisfaction rating from residents.”
Carlsbad has met four standards to become a Tree City USA community. Tree City USA communities must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
“We commend Carlsbad’s elected officials, volunteers and its citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest,” said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees provide numerous environmental, economical and health benefits to millions of people each day, and we applaud communities that make planting and caring for trees a top priority.”
Visit the city’s parks and tree maintenance division online at www.carlsbadca.gov/parksandrec. More information about Tree City USA can be found at www.arborday.org/TreeCityUSA.