McKinney has been named a Tree City USA by The National Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to community forestry. It is the fourth year McKinney has received this national recognition. "It’s not coincidence that the word nature appears in our ’unique by nature’ branding," said Mayor Bill Whitfield. "We know that our natural environment is one of the reasons so many people have chosen to live and work in McKinney – and we are committed to being good stewards of the environment. It’s an honor to receive this designation for the fourth consecutive year." The Tree City USA program is sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. McKinney has met four standards to become a Tree City USA: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a comprehensive community forestry program and an Arbor Day observance. “Trees in our cities and towns help clean the air, conserve the soil and water, moderate temperature and bring nature into our daily lives,” said John Rosenow, president of The National Arbor Day Foundation. “Tree City USA designation recognizes the work of elected officials, staff and citizens who plant and care for the community forest.”
