For the second consecutive year, Hillsboro residents are living in a Tree City USA community.
The City of Hillsboro’s commitment to public tree care recently led the Arbor Day Foundation to announce that Hillsboro has earned Tree City USA status two years in a row. The 2018 and 2019 designations celebrate the City’s tree planting, maintenance, and preservation efforts that encourage cleaner air, improved storm water management, energy savings, and increased property values and commercial activity.
More than 29,000 trees were planted in Hillsboro in 2018, mostly at Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve. In 2019, nearly 10,000 trees were planted.
The Hillsboro 2020 Vision & Action Plan and the Hillsboro 2035 Community Plan identified Tree City USA recognition as an important sustainability action item. The Hillsboro City Council made pursuit of the Tree City USA program a 2018 City priority. In both 2018 and 2019, the City of Hillsboro earned the Tree City USA designation by meeting four standards of sound urban forestry management:
- Maintaining a tree board or department responsible for public tree care
- Having a community tree ordinance
- Spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry
- Celebrating and proclaiming Arbor Day
To celebrate this achievement and Arbor Day, the City and the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce will partner to host a community event this spring. Further event details will be shared at Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/TreeCityUSA.
In alignment with the City’s Tree City USA recognition are tree care responsibilities for Hillsboro property owners, including:
- Properly maintaining and caring for trees planted in the area between their property line and the curb or edge of pavement. This area is called the public Right-of-Way (ROW).
- Before planting, major prunings, or removing a tree from within the ROW, obtaining a free ROW permit from the City.
- Trimming trees to create an 8-foot clear zone over sidewalks and a 15-foot clear zone over roadways beside their property.
To learn more about Hillsboro’s commitment to a healthier environment through Tree City USA recognition, visit Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/TreeCityUSA.