2 weeks Ago By Olivia Rivera
The city of North Las Vegas has been designated as the latest "Tree City USA" by the Arbor Day Foundation, a nod to its dedication to urban forestry. This burgeoning desert metropolis—typically more synonymous with its neon glow than verdant growth—has been on a green streak, expanding its arboreal footprint in parks, trails, and other public spaces.The Arbor Day Foundation, a nonprofit focused on encouraging people to plant and cherish trees, requires cities to meet specific standards for the "Tree City USA" title.
Apart from throwing an annual Arbor Day shindig, cities must hire a professional forester, enforce a public tree care ordinance, and devote at least $2 per capita to tree care, and planting. It seems North Las Vegas has stepped up, ticking all the right boxes to secure its leafy laurels.In areas of concrete and asphalt, trees act like urban superheroes—battling the heat island effect, reducing stormwater runoff, and providing cleaner air.
They've got a pretty solid resume: boosting mental and physical health, quelling traffic noise, spiking property values, and even scrimping energy bills for homeowners by offering much-needed shade."Trees are essential to the health and well-being of our community, and through our Municipal Forestry program, we’re making significant strides to provide shade and reduce the heat island effect," said North Las Vegas Mayor Pamela Goynes-Brown. The North Las Vegas City is also laying the groundwork for a tree-filled future with a tree inventory, shade tree canopy study, and an Urban Forest Management Plan to pinpoint needy neighborhoods.
A peek at the city's park and recreational wings showcases the efforts to elevate the ecosystem. "We have taken major steps in North Las Vegas to cool our community with the planting of trees. Our goal is to plant and maintain trees to reach maturity, which is when the real benefit of trees pays off,” shared Doug Guild, Director of Parks and Recreation, brimming with pride over his team's accomplishments.
For those digging for further dirt on North Las Vegas's green agenda, the North Las Vegas City's forestry program details are available for perusal online..
