The cities of Adel, Dallas Center and Jefferson recently received a Tree City USA Award on behalf of the Arbor Day Foundation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 

The awards were presented virtually on April 8th and recognized cities, college campuses and utilities that show a variety of dedication to the importance of trees in their communities. 

For the three cities in the Raccoon Valley Radio-listening area to qualify for the award they were required to have either a city forester or an active city tree board, a tree ordinance, and spend at least $2 per capita annually for its community forestry program and have a tree planting and maintenance plan.