Alabama has a new Tree City USA following the City of Gadsden’s official recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation.
“Natural resources like Noccalula Falls and the Coosa River are some of our greatest assets here in Gadsden, and this designation is another way to focus on appreciating nature,” said Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford. “Planting new trees is important, but properly managing our existing trees is also a critical part in keeping the city clean.
“Our landscaping and Public Works crews do an outstanding job of making Gadsden beautiful and enjoyable for both residents and visitors,” he added.
There are four standards that have to be met for a city to be designated a Tree City USA: The community must have a tree board or department, have a tree care ordinance, spend a minimum of $2 per capita on planting and maintaining trees and green spaces, and have an Arbor Day observance, proclamation and tree planting ceremony.
The City of Gadsden established a 12-member Gadsden Arbor Board last December to work with the city and the public on tree-related topics, and Gadsden will be holding its Arbor Day observance and tree planting in coordination with the annual City Clean Up Day on April 25, 2025.
Katie Wiswall, a forest management specialist with the Alabama Forestry Commission, presented Gadsden with a plaque, a flag and a number of Tree City USA street signs during the City Council meeting on March 18.
“We’ve done a number of large-scale construction projects, and we always pay attention to the role of trees in those plans. For example, we just finished a year-long renovation of the Noccalula Falls Park campground, and we planted dozens of native hardwoods to give shade to campers and replace those trees that were affected during the project,” Ford said.
Recently, the city finished the Grow Gadsden Comprehensive Plan, which includes initiatives like the Gadsden Greenway, a trail around the city, park improvements and other natural features.
Last fall, Gadsden also received an $80,000 grant to plant more than 200 trees between Black Creek and the former steel plant industrial property, and the City is working with federal partners to finalize that funding.
“For more than a year, we’ve been working towards becoming a Tree City USA,” said Tena King, Director of City Services. “We want to thank all the citizens who have helped us reach this goal and those who will be working with us in the future. There are only 81 Tree Cities in Alabama, and we’re proud to say that Gadsden is one of them.”
