SEASIDE, Ore. – Three coastal towns are among 16 Oregon communities marking significant milestones as Tree City USA communities this year.  ODF administers the Tree City USA program in Oregon for the national Arbor Day Foundation. ODF Community Assistance Forester Brittany Oxford explains that cities and towns need to meet four criteria to become a Tree City USA: 

1. Maintain a tree board or department 
2. Have a community tree ordinance 
3. Spend at least $2 per capita on urban forestry 
4. Celebrate Arbor Day 

Seaside has maintained its Tree City USA designation for a quarter century, and Cannon Beach and Lincoln City for 15 years, according to Oxford. 

“These communities really shine,” said Oxford. “For example, Seaside is also one of three dozen Oregon communities that has planted a peace tree – a tree grown from seeds of trees that survived the atom-bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.”

Oxford said cities benefit from sustained support of their urban forestry programs. “Trees are a long-term investment. Keeping engaged with maintenance and replacement tree plantings can help a community increase its tree canopy and keep that  urban forest healthy, helping make  that community more climate resilient,” she said.

Other cities marking milestone years include:

• Rogue River – 40 years
• Grants Pass – 35 years
• Madras – 30 years 
• Coburg and Wilsonville – 25 years
• Bend, Klamath Falls – 20 years
• Dallas and Gresham – 15 years
• Central Point – 10 years
• Hillsboro and Umatilla – 5 years

“Although it’s only been a Tree City for five years, Hillsboro has already earned two growth awards for improving and enlarging their urban forestry program, including one this year,” said Oxford. 

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