Vienna Celebrates 11 Years As A Tree City USA

As it broke ground , the town also celebrated Arbor Day with the planting of a new tree -- a tradition that also helped it earn a Tree City USA designation for the 11th consecutive year.

The town earned the designation, given by the Arbor Day Foundation, "to honor its commitment to urban forestry."

In order to receive the award, towns must have four things: a tree board or department, a tree care ordinance, a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per person and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

As of last year, there were about 55 towns or cities with the designation in Virginia. The program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, along with the National Association of State Foresters and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service.

After Mayor Jane Seeman read an Arbor Day proclamation to the crowd gathered for the garden groundbreaking at Vienna Elementary School, Virginia Department of Forestry spokesman Terry Lasher presented her with a Tree City USA banner, and a bumper sticker that read "11 Years."

The town picks a different tree to plant each year in a different location. This year, the town planted a fig tree alongside

Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Salgado said the fruit tree was selected because of how it will complement the fruits and vegetables grown by students and community members in the town's new garden space.

For photos from the event, click the media player above.