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Columbus Urban Forestry Master Plan Update for September 2026

Thank you for your interest in the Columbus Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP)! Your support, and the support of City and community leaders, volunteers and organizations, has helped Columbus Recreation and Parks Department’s Forestry team continue to work toward the UFMP's goals. Here are some highlights from the last three months:

• Get a Free Tree to Plant In Your Yard: Did you know that fall is a great time of year to plant a tree? Green Columbus is offering free giveaways this fall! They will be at Dodge Community Center on Oct. 4 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and at their Linden nursery at 1142 E. 17^th Ave. on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Register for your free tree soon so you can select the tree species you want! 
• Columbus ArborFest Was Successful: Approximately 2,600 people attended this event on Aug. 22 at Whetstone Park! Assistant City Forester Chad Hoff and Shelly Douglas of Green Columbus gave a Tree Summit presentation, and Forestry staff led a tree planting demonstration. Tree pruning and tree climbing demonstrations were also available for residents to enjoy.
• Planting Trees This Spring: The department worked hard to plant 1,400 trees along streets and in parks this spring. We also hosted four events planting 87 trees with volunteers and partners.
• Columbus Tree Assistance Program Awardees: This fall, six organizations will be planting trees on private property thanks to the support of the Columbus Tree Assistance Program! Columbus Recreation and Parks awarded $50,400 in awards to Bethel International United Methodist Church, Glenwood United Methodist Church, Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families, Mill Run Owners Association, Old Oaks Horticultural Club and Rockwood Court Condominium Association. We appreciate Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District and Green Columbus for partnering with us on this program!

• Conservation Event at Stockbridge Park – Columbus Recreation and Parks is hosting a conservation event on Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at Stockbridge Park! This park, located in the Far South neighborhood, was reforested at the end of 2022, and it is a priority area in the UFMP's equity analysis. At this conservation event, we will be doing a litter cleanup and some pollinator habitat work. Register today for your spot at the litter cleanup!

• Updating Our Public Tree Inventory: During last fall and winter, the Forestry section updated the department’s public tree inventory. Our park tree inventory was last updated from 2012-2016, which means the data on our park trees was at least 10-years-old. Collectively, our team has inspected 17,902 trees since Oct. 30, 2025! Of those trees, we added 5,157 trees to our inventory. This means we captured trees that had not been previously recorded. Updating this tree inventory is important because, by inspecting the trees, we note if the tree needs any care, such as pruning or removal. It's crucial to know the tree location and species so trees can be protected during construction and to know what else should be planted to maintain diversity. Here are a few facts from the inventory:
• 2,246 trees that were inspected were in the right-of-way.
• 15,656 trees grow in parks and on other City property.
• 116 parks were inventoried, and 26 areas that were not parks (primarily right-of-way).

Learn more about the UFMP at ColumbusUFMP.org. 

Thank you for your commitment to preserving and increasing the tree canopy in Columbus!