Tree City USA is a national program that recognizes cities with effective, ongoing community forestry programs. Cities of any population can qualify - from less than 100 to several million. Tree City USA is sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State Foresters. For more information and an application, see www.arborday.org.

To qualify, a city must meet four standards:

1. A board, commission, or department charged by ordinance to develop and administer a comprehensive city tree management program. These are often volunteer groups in small towns.
2. A tree ordinance that designates a board, commission, or department and gives them responsibility for writing and implementing an annual community forestry work plan. The ordinance sets tree care policies for planting, maintenance and removals.
3. A community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita. This includes all funds spent on tree care.
4. An Arbor Day observance and proclamation. In Alaska, Arbor Day is the third Monday in May.

In Alaska, Anchorage, Eielson Air Force Base, Elmendorf Air Force Base, Fort Wainwright, Juneau, Sitka and Wasilla are Tree Cities. Several other communities are working toward meeting the standards.

Wasilla was the first non-military base Tree City in Alaska. In 2002, State Forester Jeff Jahnke presents the Tree City award to Mayor Sarah Palin.