Highlands Ranch is a Tree City USA

Highlands Ranch has an expanding suburban forest with more than 14,500 trees living in our parks and along our roadways. We are proud to have been named a Tree City USA for 35 consecutive years by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The Tree City USA program honors cities, communities and towns committed to planting and nurturing trees.   Arbor Day 2024 update HERE

The photo above is of the Black Locust Trees along Gateway Dr, near the Mansion. Lovingly planted by Samuel Allen Long over 130 years ago!

The Black Locust trees, in winter, are within walking distance of the iconic stone Windmill, high above the Mansion.

Samuel was very proud of his trees. Below are two newspaper snippets of Long talking about his Timber Culture Trees–the black locust trees and others along today’s Gateway Dr.

1st snippet–From the Castle Rock Journal, June 10,1891

2nd snippet: From the Castle Rock Journal, June 26, 1889