Arlington Comprehensive Plan Update Adopted 3-17-2015 | Page 103
the lowest tolerance to surrounding
development. Many communities in
the Cross Timbers region, including
Arlington, have begun to realize the
importance of remaining concentrated
forest areas, and implementing
ordinances that prevent clear-cutting
land, establish lot tree requirements,
and even reward developers who value
preservation.
Urban Forestry
Arlington developed along the
juncture of two distinct ecological
regions: the Blackland Prairie and the
Eastern Cross Timbers. The Eastern
Cross Timbers, a narrow band of sandy
soils, rolling hills, and densely-packed
blackjack oaks and post oaks, separates
the region of Blackland Prairies on
the east from the Grand Prairies on
the west. It runs through Arlington
in a north-south direction. Although
the Eastern Cross Timbers thrives in
small pockets of undeveloped land
throughout the city, this urban forest
is threatened by rapid urbanization.
Unfortunately, the Post Oak tree, the
species most commonly affiliated
with the Eastern Cross Timbers, has
The city plays an active role in tree
maintenance and beautification
on both public and private
land throughout Arlington.
Tree preservation, replacement,
landscaping, and irrigation
are required in almost all new
developments. Since 1999, the city
has participated in Tree City USA, a
program designed to promote natural
beauty throughout urban areas. The
city is also an active member of the
Tree North Texas Initiative, which aims
to plant 3 million trees in the region by
2022. The North Central Texas Council
of Governments (NCTCOG) monitors
the progress of this program, and one
can register trees planted to help meet
the city’s goal of planting 30,000 trees.
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