Tree City Award, Arbor Day, and Memorial Tree Program

Lakeland’s Commitment to Preserving Nature for Future Generations

Tree City USALakeland Designated a Tree City USA Award Recipient

The City of Lakeland has received the Tree City USA Award for the 15 years!

The Tree City Award recognizes cities that have made it a priority to plant, preserve, and protect their precious tree resources as well as engage the community in environmental stewardship.

To achieve this status, cities must meet five standards:

Have a tree advisory committee, a tree care plan, dedicated annual expenditures for its program, an Arbor Day observance, and service learning projects.

The Tree City USA Growth Award is awarded by the Arbor Day Foundation to recognize higher levels of tree care by participating Tree City USA communities. The Growth Award highlights innovative programs and projects, increased commitment resources for urban forestry, and provides an opportunity to share new ideas and successes across the country.

The Tree City USA and Growth Award programs are sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service.

Memorial Tree Program

View Lakeland’s Memorial Tree Program brochure (PDF) for more information. Please verify that the information provided is up-to-date by emailing the Parks & Recreation Director.

The Memorial Tree program allows groups and individuals to donate trees to honor and commemorate individuals, families, and organizations. It is a way to provide a living tribute that will last several lifetimes.

Planting trees in a city park is a wonderful way to honor loved ones while providing a gift to the entire community. Trees are planted in public parks so that everyone has an opportunity to enjoy the beauty living trees provide.

A memorial tree can be planted for a variety of occasions: in honor of a loved one, friend, or colleague who has passed; to celebrate the life of someone special; to commemorate individuals, families, or organizations; or even to celebrate a wedding, graduation, birth, birthday, or other occasions.

Only trees from the City of Lakeland’s Tree Species Selection List (PDF) are available for the program with most trees being 15-gallon size at the time of planting. Maintenance and replacement of the tree(s) will be guaranteed for a five-year period from the time of planting or any subsequent replanting.

Donors will be notified of the tree’s planting date, species, and location. Trees will be labeled with the same type of display as those used throughout the City’s arboreta. That is, anodized aluminum labels mounted directly on or staked next to the tree with the following format.

Natural Resources Department & Board

For more information regarding Lakeland’s Natural Resources Department, click here.

For the Parks and Recreation/Natural Resources Board meeting times, click here.

Tree Removal

Tree removal permits are required for all trees 10 inches in diameter or greater, per Lakeland’s Tree Management Ordinance (TMO).