Kennesaw Named Tree City USA

For its fourth year, Kennesaw was named a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees.

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

The program provides direction, technical assistance, public attention, and national recognition for urban and community forestry programs in more than 3400 communities.

In order to achieve Tree City USA status, Kennesaw had to meet four standards: having a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program, and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

“We all benefit when communities like Kennesaw place a high priority on planting and caring for trees,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees shade our homes and add beauty to our neighborhoods. They also provide many environmental, economic and social benefits. We applaud Kennesaw’s elected officials, volunteers and citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest.”

In other environmental strides, Kennesaw was by the Atlanta Regional Commission Board in recognition of the city's environmentally-conscious policies and practices. Kennesaw was also recognized by Keep Georgia Beautiful for that increased recycling by 15 percent.