The City of Mentor was named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management.
Mentor 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 an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. 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.
Started in 1976, Tree City USA is one of the Arbor Day Foundation’s oldest programs. The Foundation’s founders had a vision for a greener, healthier America, and hoped this initiative would inspire change on a nationwide level. Today, the program includes more than 3,600 communities from all 50 states.
The benefits trees bring to urban environments are endless and include cooler temperatures, cleaner air, higher property values and healthier residents.
This is the 34th year that Mentor has been recognized with the honor of Tree City USA. Additionally, the city received the Tree City USA Growth Award that is given to communities that demonstrate increased levels of tree care and community engagement.
Currently, there are over 24,000 trees in Mentor’s urban forest which consists of all public trees within the public right-of-way (tree lawns), parks, and other public lands. To find out more about Mentor’s Street Tree Program visit cityofmentor.com