Waterloo Named a Tree City for the 40th Year

For the 40th year in a row, the City of Waterloo has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to effective urban forest management.

Waterloo is one of 74 Iowa communities to qualify for the status. Jacob Geller, Natural Resources Technician at Waterloo Leisure Services, received the award on the City’s behalf at the Iowa Department of Natural Resources Urban Forestry Award luncheon recently. 

To receive the award, a city must at minimum have either a city forester or an active city tree board; have a tree ordinance; spend at least $2 per capita annually for its community forestry program; and have a tree planting and maintenance plan. 

“I encourage everyone to plant a tree on Arbor Day. If property owners choose to plant a tree on the right of way between the sidewalk and street, they should contact Waterloo Leisure Services at 319-291-4370 to approve the planting.  Leisure Services staff will work with the property owner to make sure the right tree is planted in the right place,” said Todd Derifield, Assistant Director/City Forester.

The City of Waterloo will recognize Arbor Day with a proclamation. Arbor Day is always the last Friday in April - this year it is on April 26, 2024. Also worth noting:

  • This year Waterloo Leisure Services will be focusing tree resources on a planting at Gates Park where 125 trees are planned to be planted throughout the park. Grants were received from the Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa and MidAmerican Energy’s TreesPlease program specifically for this planting. 
  • Waterloo Leisure Services will be distributing 216 trees to City residents that have already purchased them at a reduced rate thanks to the Young Family Foundation through the Plant Waterloo program. 

Tree City - CopyPicture (left to right); Jeff Goerndt/State Forester, Jacob Geller/Natural Resources Technician at Waterloo Leisure Services, Kayla Lyon/Director of the Department of Natural Resources