CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) - The city of Chula Vista can add yet another honor to its growing list of nationwide accolades.
The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) ranked San Diego County’s second-largest city at No. 5 on its annual list of most wildlife-friendly U.S. cities. It is Chula Vista’s first time on the list.
According to the NWF, the group’s Urban Wildlife Program ranks America’s 100 largest cities based on factors such as the amount of parkland in the city and participation in urban wildlife programs.
NWF says: “The city of Chula Vista is new to our list this year. Sustainability plans such as the City Operations Sustainability Plan, the Chula Vista Vision 2020 Environmental Element, and the City of Chula Vista MSCP Subarea Plan promote both physical and environmental health, addressing issues that affect open space, biological resources, mineral resources, and air and water quality. Chula Vista’s NatureScape program promotes the creation of wildlife-friendly gardens.”
Chula Vista Mayor Mary Casillas Salas said of the ranking: “We are thrilled to earn the number five spot on the National Wildlife Federation’s Top 10 Cities for Wildlife. We have more than 500 Chula Vista residents who have created certified wildlife habitats are providing beneficial habitat and conserving precious resources that demonstrate we can coexist with wildlife in urban southern California. We appreciate the grant funding from Sweetwater Authority that helps make this program possible.”
The top city on the NWF’s list is Austin, Texas; Atlanta, Portland, and Indianapolis follow at No. 2, 3, and 4, respectively.
