Tree City USA

The City of Falls Church has the honor of being a Tree City USA, as designated by the National Arbor Day Foundation. See the April 2015 news release announcing the honor for the 37th year in a row!

The distinction honors the city's commitment to community forestry. In fact, the City was the first community in Virginia to be recognized as a Tree City and has the longest state record for this annual national award.
Becoming a Tree City USA Community
The Arbor Day Foundation manages the national Tree City USA program. Communities achieve Tree City USA status by meeting four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.

The City fulfills these standards by:
  1. Maintaining the five-member Tree Commission, which makes recommendations on relevant legislation, plans, policies, and programs. It also advises the City Arborist, City Council, and City Manager on tree-related matters;
  2. Abiding by two ordinances that pertain to the preservation and replacement of trees on private and public grounds;
  3. Managing a comprehensive community forestry program via the Urban Forestry Division;
  4. Observing Arbor Day -- Falls Church has celebrated Arbor Day every year since 1892 on the third Friday of April.