The Highlands Ranch Metro District celebrated Arbor Day on April 26 at Big Dry Creek Park, 9898 Atherton Way. A large group of volunteers from Boy Scouts Troop 870 and Centennial Water and Sanitation District rolled up their sleeves to plant 24 new trees.

Big Dry Creek Park’s trees were significantly impacted by last year’s tornado in Highlands Ranch. The new oaks, lindens, maples, pines and other species of trees planted for Arbor Day will help fill in some of the gaps left after the storm. The trees were purchased with a Reforest Colorado grant from the Colorado Tree Coalition.

“We are planting around 225 new trees across our community this spring during the first year of our seven-year replacement plan,” said Ken Standen, director of operations & maintenance. “We’re grateful to have the help of these wonderful volunteers as we make progress in restoring our tree canopy.”

The Metro District’s dedication to its urban forest management was recognized once again by the Arbor Day Foundation with a designation as a Tree City USA for the 36th consecutive year.

The Metro District achieved Tree City USA recognition by meeting the program’s four requirements: Tree City USA communities must maintain a tree board or department, have a tree-care ordinance, dedicate an annual community forestry budget of at least $2 per capita and host an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The Tree City USA program recognizes cities, communities and towns committed to planting and nurturing trees. It is sponsored by The Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the US Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. 

The Metro District supports a thriving urban forest through a variety of practices including maintaining the health of existing trees, fighting tree-related insects and diseases, providing free community tree and limb recycling, leading a tree planting program and coordinating annual Arbor Day activities. Highlands Ranch boasts more than 14,500 trees in its urban forest located in parks, along roadways and in open space areas of the community. 

A spring tree recycling event will be available to Highlands Ranch residents on Sunday, May 5 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The recycling event will take place in the Redstone Park parking lot near Halftime Help Stadium, 3270 Redstone Park Circle. Residents can recycle discarded tree limbs and woody plant materials. Free mulch will also be available on a self-serve basis.