GACKLE, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – A city that takes care of its trees takes care of its people. Since 1976, the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program has recognized and supported the cities and leaders who create places to play, room to
breathe, and beauty on every block.

Their standards have empowered more than 3,500 cities to create and maintain tree cover. From Sibley, North Dakota (population 20) to New York City, and everywhere in between, Tree City USA helps communities demonstrate and promote their commitment to a greener place to call home. Communities across North Dakota have made this exceptional commitment to their urban and community forest resources and have earned the designation of “Tree City USA”. To earn this recognition, communities must meet four overarching standards. They include maintaining a tree board or department,
having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day. These efforts impact our state’s health, safety, and economy; enhance our quality of life; and make our cities and towns a more beautiful place to live, work, and play.

In North Dakota, there currently are 50 communities registered as a Tree City USA. Five of these communities also received a Growth Award, which recognizes major milestones and annual activities that build sustainable community forestry programs over the long term. Four Tree Campus Higher Education awards were recognized in the state as well: Dakota College at Bottineau, North Dakota State University, United Tribes Technical College, and University of North Dakota.
Why be a Tree City USA? The benefits include:
 Recognizing and rewarding communities for urban forestry management
 Providing education on relevant tree care and management practices
 Greater community pride by showing the community and its decision-makers care about the
environment
 Increased public awareness of urban forestry practices
 Some North Dakota Forest Service grants provide extra points in their scoring for Tree City
USA communities
 Community Family Forest grant awards increase by $500 for Tree City USA communities

The City of Gackle joined the Tree City USA roster in 2024. When asked about the why behind becoming a Tree City USA, Gackle Park Board President Beth Reiser said “Pride is the best word that describes on how we feel about our beautiful little town becoming a Tree City USA community. We’ve worked hard on our parks and community to bring much needed life back to it. We have submitted grants, created a tree board, held pruning classes, handed out 50 young trees to our community members for Arbor Day, and planted 55 trees across our 3 parks. We are planting for the future, creating a shade canopy, attracting birds and pollinators, and beautifying this town we love. Come visit us in Gackle.”

Now is the time to start preparing to become a Tree City USA. Arbor Day celebrations will be happening all over the state this spring. The Arbor Day Foundation has developed a Readiness Quiz to serve as a tool for communities wondering if they qualify for Tree City USA recognition and to advise them on steps to take to become ready.

If you’re interested in becoming a Tree City USA participant, contact our North Dakota Community Forestry staff to learn more by emailing cfgrants@ndsu.edu.