The City of Cañon City has been named Tree City, USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation for the 44th consecutive year. Municipalities entering the nationwide program receive the designation on the recommendation of the state foresters.
Communities must meet the following standards to qualify: they must have adopted a city tree ordinance; have a comprehensive urban forestry program; and annually observe Arbor Day. The City first received recognition in 1980 as a result of its tree maintenance and planting program, as well as its Dutch Elm Disease Program.
The City of Cañon City Parks Department would like to invite the public to its annual Arbor Day celebration, to be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 26 in Greydene Park at Eighth Street and College Avenue.
There will be a tree planting, a few speakers with brief messages about Arbor Day, refreshments and cookies, and a Blue Spruce sapling giveaway for all attendees. Staff is thrilled to have a class of students from Washington Elementary School join them for the event and will be giving away a small dwarf tree as a prize in a tree species game.
Staff will also have some fun facts to share with everybody about trees and their role in the community. Please join the staff in celebrating the urban forest and planting trees for future generations.
The City has a tree voucher program for residents who have lost a street tree or desire a first-time new street tree. Residents are encourages to call the Parks Department at (719) 269-9028 or visit its website at https://www.canoncity.org/466/Tree-Voucher-Program to find out more information on this program and how to request a tree voucher.