From staff reports
For the 23rd year, Rochester has been named a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
The designation commemorates the city's commitment to its urban forest.
In addition to the first award, Rochester is a recipient this year of a Tree City USA Growth Award for progress in its community forestry program, which includes public education, a citizen training program, tree inventory and analysis.
Nine other cities in the state won the award. Rochester's work with the NeighborWoods program, a public-private initiative, and its own citizen-outreach programs qualified it for the award, said Jacob Ryg, city forester.
