Tree City USA

Monroe is celebrating two decades of green growth

Sometimes a tree is just a tree, but sometimes a tree is a lifeline. Back in 1872, one enterprising individual noted that his hometown of Nebraska City, NE had a lack of trees and proposed a simple idea – a holiday whereby individuals planted trees. A century and a half later, Monroe is celebrating nearly two decades as a “Tree City USA” municipality.

Back again to 1976, the year that Tree City USA began. After nearly a century of success, the Arbor Day Foundation wanted to see their vision of a “greener, healthier America” grow. Just 42 communities in 16 states were part of the initial cohort that year, and from information on their website, more than 3,600 communities from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico are involved.

Twenty Connecticut municipalities are represented as Tree City USA municipalities; with Milford and Stratford joining for just one year and Fairfield and Stamford as the longest standing recipients at 34 years. According to the Arbor Day Foundation, Connecticut has a 100% recertification rate and planted 3,601 trees in 2021, the last year data is available.

To qualify, there are just four standards a municipality has to meet:

There must be a tree board or department. Someone must be legally responsible for the care of all trees on city- or town-owned property.

1. There must be a public tree care ordinance, which must be in effect, 24/7/365 and not triggered by an event or land development process.

2. There must be a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita.

3. And finally, there must be an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. In Connecticut that is the last Friday in April.

4. First Selectman Ken Kellogg said in a press release, “The award is given to honor Monroe’s commitment to effective community forest management and meeting criteria that demonstrates Monroe’s commitment to responsible municipal tree care.”

And trees are so much more than just a plant. They are an integral part of our ecological landscape in Connecticut. Trees do not just look pretty lined up along an avenue, but perform essential tasks. The Arbor Day Foundation estimates that urban trees alone contribute $73 billion in environmental benefits each year through carbon sequestration, air pollution filtration, and stormwater management. They keep the temperature down in urban environments and raise property values.

So a tree is not always just a tree. Like Shel Silverstein’s famous Giving Tree, trees don’t ask for much and they give so much in return. But unlike that poetic tree, the Arbor Day Foundation suggests you follow the lead of Monroe and the 19 other Connecticut municipalities and plant them instead of cutting them down.