Beverly Named A 'Tree City USA' Community

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly's tradition of embracing of trees in an urban setting was celebrated for the 20th year with the Arbor Day Foundation naming it a 2020 Tree City USA community.

The recognition is based on the city's commitment to increasing and maintaining its tree population.

"Tree City USA communities see the impact an urban forest has in a community first hand," said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. "The trees being planted and cared for by Beverly are ensuring that generations to come will enjoy a better quality of life.

"Additionally, participation in this program brings residents together and creates a sense of civic pride, whether it's through volunteer engagement or public education."

The Arbor Day Foundation — the nation's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees — is responsible for the designation. The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, environmental and educational organization of more than 1 million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.

Tree City USA communities must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a community forestry program with annual expenditures of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)