Nauvoo Earns 2025 Tree City USA Recognition From Arbor Day

Foundation

Nauvoo, Illinois 4/25/26 – The Arbor Day Foundation named Nauvoo a 2025 Tree City USA in honor of its commitment to plant, grow, and maintain trees to benefit its community.

In addition, Nauvoo was among 103 Illinois communities that were awarded a 2025 Tree City USA Growth Award for achieving accomplishments that go above and beyond the minimum standards to gain Tree City USA recognition. Nauvoo’s 2025 Growth Award achievements included a combination of maintaining an annual tree planting program, planting more trees than the community removed, working with a utility that is Tree Line USA recognized, regularly using recycled tree debris such as wood mulch,
and maintaining regular inner departmental communications involving community trees across city departments.

The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees. Its network of more than a million supporters and partners has helped the organization plant more than 500 million trees in forests and communities across more than 60 countries. The Foundation’s Tree City USA program is now celebrating its 50 th recognition season. The anniversary
underscores the program’s rich history of growing healthier, greener, and more resilient communities through urban forestry.

“For five decades, Tree City USA has rallied passionate local leaders to enhance the livability and sustainability of their communities. Tree champions like Nauvoo are leading the way in a growing movement to shape a better future with trees and action,” said Michelle Saulnier, Vice President of Programs at the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees are critical infrastructure, building resiliency and fostering good health in our nation’s cities. We’re proud Nauvoo is among the Arbor Day Foundation’s growing network of communities dedicated to creating positive impact through trees.”

In cities and neighborhoods, trees are proven to help mitigate the urban heat island effect, reduce stormwater runoff, improve air quality, and boost mental and physical health. When the right trees are planted in the right places, they can also reduce traffic noise, increase property values, and lower energy costs for homeowners.
“We're proud to be recognized as a Tree City USA community and to receive our first Tree City Growth Award,” said Rebecca Williamson, Tourism Director for Nauvoo. “These honors reflect our commitment to preserving the natural beauty that makes Nauvoo such a special place to explore, and they play an important role in enhancing outdoor tourism experiences for our visitors.”

To earn Tree City USA recognition, a city must uphold four core standards including maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and participating in an Arbor Day celebration.

The Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program is operated in partnership with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. To learn more about Tree City USA and other Arbor Day Foundation programs, visit arborday.org/programs.

About the Arbor Day Foundation The Arbor Day Foundation is a global nonprofit inspiring people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. They foster a growing community of more than 1 million leaders, innovators, planters, and supporters united by their bold belief that a more hopeful future can be shaped through the power of trees. For more
than 50 years, they’ve answered critical need with action, planting more than half a billion trees alongside their partners. And this is only the beginning.
The Arbor Day Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit pursuing a future where all life flourishes through the power of trees. Learn more at arborday.org.