The Town of Cutler Bay has been announced as a 2018 Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation—making it the tenth consecutive year that the Town receives this recognition. The Arbor Day Foundation also awarded the Town the Growth Award for the fifth consecutive year. Tree City USA is a national recognition program that began in 1976 which provides the framework necessary for communities to manage and expand their public trees. The program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.
The Town achieved the Tree City USA recognition and Growth Award by meeting the four fundamental standards the program requires: 1) the Town must have a tree board or department; 2) the Town must have a tree care ordinance; 3) the Town must have an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita; and 4) the Town must have an Arbor Day Observance and Proclamation every year.
“Trees are vital to our quality of life and environment,” expressed Mayor Tim Meerbott. “Cutler Bay has been a leader in environmental issues from the very beginning. Our participation in the Tree City USA program demonstrates that we remain committed to protecting and enhancing our community and natural environment.”
Since its incorporation, the Town has planted more than 3,700 trees. A substantial tree canopy has many benefits for the community such as: shading our homes, our businesses and our streets; cleaning our air and water; reducing storm water run-off; increasing our property values; reducing energy costs; and making our neighborhoods greener safer, and healthier.