Arlington has been a designated Tree City USA every year since 2005. To earn Tree City USA status, municipalities must:
- Have a tree warden
- Follow state laws regulating community forests
- Celebrate Arbor Day
- Have an annual forestry budget of $2 per capita or more
Being a Tree City USA reflects a town’s commitment to protecting the environment and their community forest. On a more pragmatic level, communities with this designation are sometimes given preference over others when competing for state or federal grants directed at trees or forestry programs.