Wilmington earns 2025 Tree City USA Growth Award

Published on March 10, 2026

The City of Wilmington has received a 2025 Tree City USA Growth Award, recognizing the City’s continued efforts to strengthen and expand its urban forestry program.

The award was announced by the North Carolina Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry program as part of its annual recognition of communities, campuses, and utilities across the state that demonstrate leadership in tree stewardship. Wilmington is one of four North Carolina communities — alongside Concord, Davidson, and Gastonia — to receive the 2025 Tree City USA Growth Award.

The Tree City USA Growth Award recognizes communities that go beyond the core requirements of the Tree City USA program by demonstrating measurable progress in strengthening their urban and community forestry initiatives. Communities that have previously earned Tree City USA designation are eligible to apply for the Growth Award by showing continued commitment to expanding and improving their local forestry programs.

The Tree City USA program is a national initiative that provides a framework for community forestry management. To achieve Tree City USA status, cities must meet four standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, adopting a community tree ordinance, investing in a forestry program with an annual budget, and observing Arbor Day with a public celebration.

North Carolina observes Arbor Day on the first Friday following March 15, while National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April each year. Arbor Day celebrations encourage communities to plant and care for trees while highlighting the many environmental, economic, and quality-of-life benefits they provide.

The North Carolina Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry program administers the Tree City USA, Tree Campus Higher Education, and Tree Line USA recognition programs across the state. The program also works with communities to support sustainable urban forest management and local Arbor Day celebrations.

Learn more about the North Carolina Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry program, or view the full list of Tree City USA recipients.