Arbor Day is dedicated to the importance of trees in our lives and promoting tree planting and care. First celebrated in 1872, Arbor Day was established to encourage the planting of trees that provide shade, shelter, food, fuel, and beauty to open areas.
The New York City Department of Parks & Recreation is actively working to create a greener city through its street tree planting initiatives. The Street Tree Planting program aims to plant every available location in the city on a 9-year cycle. Through this program, NYC Parks plants trees along streets within the City-owned public right-of-way. This program, as well as tree planting in general, provide numerous benefits to city residents:
- Removing air pollutants that can trigger respiratory illnesses
- Reducing stormwater runoff
- Keeping the city cooler during summer months
- Providing shelter and food for birds and other wildlife
- Offsetting climate change by reducing energy used by buildings
- Reducing carbon dioxide emissions that pollute our air
The planting process involves careful selection of tree species by foresters who work with experienced tree growers to ensure only the healthiest and most appropriate approved species are planted. Trees are typically planted from October through May, with contractors responsible for basic tree care services including watering, weeding, replacing missing soil, and conducting minor pruning after planting.
If you know of a tree that needs their attention, you can report it by submitting a service request here. If you’ve already filed a service request with NYC Parks or with 311, you can check the status of your tree service request using your confirmation number here.
New York State also encourages residents to celebrate Arbor Day in ways that promote tree awareness and environmental stewardship, including:
- Planting trees in local communities
- Attending tree planting celebrations organized by cities, towns, and villages
- Using educational resources for students and youth to learn about the importance of trees
- Participating in the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s School Seedling program
For more information about Arbor Day celebrations, tree planting programs, and how you can get involved, visit the NYC Parks’ Earth Day & Arbor Day events page, the Street Tree Planting program page, and the New York State Arbor Day celebration page.
