On April 16 Mayor Lucy Vinis visited Chase Commons Park to announce that Eugene has earned Tree City USA status for its 43rd consecutive year. Whilst also announcing that April will now be referred to as Arbor month, dedicated to the growth of the city’s tree population. Urban Forestry and Eugene’s Parks & Open Space have teamed up to plant over 600 trees in the city of Eugene over just a few weeks.
These trees may not have an immediate impact on the environment but in a few years they will be providing more oxygen to the area, more habitats for birds and other local wildlife. While also providing shade and other beneficial factors to the area that both the people and animals who live nearby will enjoy for years to come.
Mayor Vinis explained that in light of recent years and global events the city of Eugene has actually been behind on its growth of its trees, and has reached a point where only about 22% of Eugene’s airspace is covered with tree foliage. The national average is approximately 30%. However, with the planting of over 600 trees this year, a record setting number for the city, Eugene is back near that national average. As for the month of April “TrackTown USA” looks more like “Tree City USA”.
