The City of Renton’s Urban Forestry Program has received an annual award from the National Arbor Day Foundation since the program’s initial beginnings in 2007.
The Tree City USA program honors communities across the nation for meeting four standards each year. The award goes to communities that submit certification and recertification applications each year to qualify for work performed the previous year. Renton’s awards are publicized yearly through the media, at city council meetings, and during the program’s main event, the Arbor Day/Earth Day Celebration, generally held on the third Saturday in April. This year, the Renton Community Celebration hosted by the Neighborhood Program will host a sustainability fair after the Arbor Day/Earth Day Celebration at the Renton Community Center.
The city also qualified for its 13th Growth Award, which goes to communities that demonstrate efforts beyond the standards for Tree City USA. In 2023, the growth award was based on creating a new full time position and bringing the Inspecting Arborist services in-house to assist the City Forester more effectively.