Palm Beach Gardens was meant to be named ‘Palm Beach City’ by John D. MacArthur, the multimillionaire landowner who developed our original 4,000 acres into what he envisioned would become a ‘garden city’. Permission for this original name was not granted, and we became Palm Beach Gardens!
From the stunning original Banyan tree to land planning overflowing with provisions for shade trees, foliage, and palms, we live up to our name, and our beautiful community, now and in the future, is beholden to 50% greenspace in perpetuity.
I find that our city’s trees and greenspace are a visual delineator from other bordering areas, whether it is the county or other municipalities – our trees let you know – you have arrived in Palm Beach Gardens!
Four of the overarching standards of qualifying as a Tree City include having a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, (forestry is part of the Development Compliance and Zoning Division within the Planning and Zoning Department), spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and celebrating Arbor Day. The City’s annual budget includes tree expenditures that exceed the minimum $2 per capita, for example, fiscal year 2023 includes tree expenditures of $11 per capita.
Take a moment to walk the path at the park and read about each tree that has been planted there since we became a ‘Tree City’.
Don't forget to also visit our Oaks Park Butterfly Habitat! This lovely location has become home to countless pollinators and shows our commitment to utilizing passive greenspace for our residents and winged visitors.
We are also proud that Palm Beach Gardens has earned the designation of ‘Tree City’ for the last 35 years as part of the Tree City USA® Program. This award identifies communities promoting and following the Tree City USA® Program, sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.