Curb CanopyGet Rooted
Free tree programs, planting events, and stewardship opportunities verified by our team.
NYC Neighborhood Tree Planting Program
NYC Parks plants street trees on a cyclical, block-by-block basis across all five boroughs on a 9-year rotation, prioritizing neighborhoods with the highest Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) scores. The program replaced individual 311 tree requests in late 2024. There is no application for residents. Parks foresters inspect each block, determine feasible planting locations, remove stumps, repair sidewalks, and plant trees wholesale. The cycle map on the NYC Parks website shows which neighborhoods are scheduled for planting in the next two years. This approach guarantees every viable spot in the city gets inspected and planted within the decade, with the most heat-burdened neighborhoods planted first. A $136 million capital investment targets every viable spot in HVI-4 and HVI-5 neighborhoods by 2027.
NYRP Free Tree Giveaway
NYRP gives away roughly 3,500 native trees every spring across all five boroughs, completely free. Register online at nyrp.org, show up during a 2-hour window at a library, park, or community center near you, and walk out with a tree. The 2025 season ran April 5 through May 4, with 26 native species including flowering dogwood, eastern redbud, American persimmon, pawpaw, and beach plum. Trees are bare-root or small container stock, sized for backyard planting. You cannot plant in a street tree pit or public park, but apartment dwellers can take trees to their building courtyard, school, or community garden. Registration fills up fast but walk-ups are welcome during the second half of each event. The program has given away more than 75,000 trees since 2008. Sign up for the NYRP newsletter to get notified when registration opens each winter. The 2026 giveaway is confirmed returning but dates have not been announced.
New York State DEC Urban and Community Forestry Grants
NYSDEC's Urban and Community Forestry program offers technical assistance and periodic grant funding to municipalities, nonprofits, and community organizations for tree planting, tree inventories, canopy assessments, and urban forestry planning across New York State. Programs have included USDA-funded IRA Urban and Community Forestry grants, Tree City USA support, and state cost-share opportunities. Eligibility and funding availability change annually. Applications are typically accepted through the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA) process each spring. Check the NYSDEC website and contact your regional urban forester for current opportunities.