Tree City USA since 1984!
The City of Yankton’s Urban Forestry efforts have been recognized by the Tree City USA program and its sponsors, the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service, every year since 1984.
Yankton annually meets the four standards to become a Tree City USA community:
- have a tree board or department,
- have a tree-care ordinance,
- have a comprehensive community forestry program,
- and have an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
Yankton not only earns the Tree City USA recognition but realizes that trees:
- Promote healthier communities by filtering the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles.
- Moderate climate, conserve water, and provide vital habitat for wildlife.
- Reduce the heat island effect in urban areas caused by pavement and buildings.
- Reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water.
- Increase property values.
- Reduce energy use for heating and cooling buildings.
- Add beauty to home lots, commercial properties, parks, boulevards, and neighborhoods.