Waterloo Tree City USA 37th Year in a Row

The Arbor Day Foundation has released their annual list of Tree City USA designated cities. Waterloo is being recognized as a Tree City USA for the 37^th year in a row thanks to the commitment by Mayor and Council to support a healthy urban forest resource.

Awards were presented virtually on April 8, on behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources at the annual Urban Forestry Awards luncheon. Waterloo Park Superintendent/City Forester Todd Derifield received the award on behalf of the City.

The Foundation recognizes cities who have either a city forester or an active city tree board, have a tree ordinance, meet an annual per capita expenditure for its community forestry program, and have a tree planting and maintenance plan.

In addition, Waterloo encourages the health and propagation of trees through a number of tree planting programs.

The Plant Waterloo program’s tree distribution will be considered the City of Waterloo’s Arbor Day observance. Thanks to the Young Family Foundation and their generous donation, over 200 quality trees were sold at an affordable cost of $20 each to Waterloo citizens participating in the program. These trees will help in the replacement of all the ash trees lost to the Emerald Ash Borer over the last several years. Those who have purchased a tree this year can pick up their tree on April 29, at 4:00 pm.
Waterloo Leisure Services is involved with planting 36 new trees in downtown Waterloo in a project that involves the creation of new tree planting pits in previously treeless sidewalks. This project was made possible by a MidAmerican Energy Trees Please! Tree planting grant as well as input from David Deeds of JSA, Kuiper/Ritland Landscaping, Waterloo Engineering Department, Planning Department and Street Department.

The City of Waterloo will kick off the annual Arbor Day recognition with Mayor Quentin Hart reading the Arbor Day Proclamation tonight at the council meeting proclaiming the week of April 25^th to May 1^st as Arbor Week in Waterloo. The last Friday in April is officially designated as Arbor Day each year in Iowa, falling on April 30, 2021.

For more information about Waterloo’s Forestry program, contact Todd Derifield by calling 319-291-4370.