Issaquah has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management.
First recognized as a Tree City USA in 1992, Issaquah has sustained the honor for more than two decades by meeting the program's requirements: maintaining 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.
Mayor Fred Butler recently issued a proclamation to celebrate Arbor Day in our community, and on April 15, 2017, volunteers joined the City and Mountains to Sound Greenway to build a new trail and plant trees at Lake Sammamish State Park.
"Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community firsthand," said Dan Lambe, Arbor Day Foundation president. "Additionally, recognition brings residents together and creates a sense of community pride, whether it’s through volunteer engagement or public education."
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.