(Des Moines) The annual Urban Forestry Awards luncheon celebrates communities, campuses, and utilities that show a strong commitment to the value of trees. This year’s awards were presented on April 8, 2026, at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny on behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The Tree City USA Award recognizes cities that meet key standards for urban forestry, including maintaining a city forester or tree board, enforcing a tree ordinance, investing at least $2 per capita in forestry efforts, and implementing a tree planting and maintenance plan. This year’s recipients include Adel, Ames, Arnolds Park, Atlantic, Belle Plaine, Bettendorf, Bondurant, Boone, Burlington, Carlisle, Carroll, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Clarinda, Clarksville, Clinton, Clive, Coralville, Council Bluffs, Cresco, Davenport, Decorah, Denver, Des Moines, DeWitt, Dubuque, Dysart, Fort Dodge, Greene, Grimes, Grundy Center, Hampton, Hillsboro, Hopkinton, Huxley, Indianola, Iowa City, Jefferson, Johnston, Livermore, Luxemburg, Manchester, Maquoketa, Marion, Marquette, Marshalltown, Mason City, Maxwell, Muscatine, Newton, North Liberty, Odebolt, Oelwein, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Red Oak, Sioux City, Spencer, Story City, Tipton, Urbandale, Washington, Waterloo, Waukee, Waverly, Webster City, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, and Winterset.
This marks the 30th year Atlantic has received the Tree City USA Award.
The Tree City USA Growth Award highlights communities that go beyond the basic requirements by emphasizing education, partnerships, planning, and effective tree management. Recipients this year, all of whom also earned Tree City USA status, are Ames, Bettendorf, Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Coralville, Decorah, Des Moines, Dysart, Grundy Center, Iowa City, Johnston, Marion, Marquette, Mason City, Oelwein, Polk City, Story City, Waverly, West Des Moines, and Winterset.
The Tree Cities of the World designation marks a city’s progress toward a comprehensive urban forestry vision. To qualify, communities must meet five standards, including responsible tree care, official policies, an updated tree inventory, a dedicated budget, and an annual tree celebration. This year’s honorees are Burlington, Decorah, Des Moines, and Iowa City.
The Tree Campus USA Award recognizes colleges and universities that demonstrate a commitment to campus forestry through advisory committees, tree care plans, dedicated funding, Arbor Day observances, and student engagement projects. This year’s recipients are Divine Word College, Drake University, Hawkeye Community College, Iowa State University, Kirkwood Community College, the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Iowa, and William Penn University.
The Tree Line USA Award honors utilities that promote proper tree care and public awareness. To qualify, utilities must meet standards, including worker training, tree planting, energy conservation programs, and participation in Arbor Day. This year’s recipients are Alliant Energy, MidAmerican Energy, and Waverly Utilities.
(Photo: L-R-Jeff Christensen, Atlantic Parks and Recreation, Dolly Bergmann, Atlantic Trees Forever, and Jeff Goerndt, State Forester.
