Accessibility Settings
Language Translation
Governor Mike Braun
  Close Menu

Community & Urban Forestry

Subscribe to Community & Urban Forestry Newsletter

Indiana Division of Forestry's Community Urban Forestry Program provides guidance and grants to communities for the development and caretaking of urban forests.

An urban tree canopy is part of a community’s infrastructure and creates valuable environmental, economic, and social benefits. Well-managed urban forests pay back nearly three times the cost to plant and maintain them.

More than 80 percent of the urban forest is in our own backyard. As society becomes more urbanized and sprawls into rural areas, forests, wooded edges, and woodlots in urban areas are an increasingly important resource.

Contact us at:

Racheal Stenger
Outreach Coordinator
rstenger@dnr.IN.gov
317-234-6741

Grants

Funds are made available to Indiana communities for public tree inventories and management planning, tree planting, education and outreach materials, and other related projects depending on funding source priorities.

2025 End of Year Report

See below to learn what the community and urban forestry program staff were up to in 2025! We are excited to continue growing in 2026.

Indiana Tree Stewards

Tree Stewards workshops are offered periodically throughout the state which teach the basics of urban tree care and advocacy. After attending the workshop, attendees are asked to put their knowledge into practice by volunteering 15 hours of service in their local community.

The mission of the Tree Stewards program is to:

  • Educate participants on proper tree care, biology, and urban forestry practices
  • Empower participants to advocate for community and urban forestry in their neighborhood, community, and state, and
  • Connect participants to local volunteer opportunities.

Upcoming Events

  • None scheduled

Contact Racheal Stenger at 317-234-6741 or rstenger@dnr.IN.gov for questions about the Tree Steward program.

Big Tree Tours

The Big Tree Register is a list of the largest known specimens of each native tree species in Indiana maintained by the DNR Division of Forestry. For more information about the Big Tree Register and an interactive map showing locations of various big trees around the state, please visit: on.IN.gov/big-tree

CUF is now offering Big Tree Tours of state champion and heritage trees to the public. This addition to the Big Tree Register emphasizes the importance of celebrating heritage trees, protecting mature trees, and promoting age and species diversity in our forest population. Locally important trees and state champion trees will be highlighted at each tour.

Upcoming Big Tree Tours

  • None scheduled

We will be visiting two state champions and a quality nature preserve on this bus and walking tour.

Indiana Community and Urban Forestry Symposium

The Indiana Community Forestry Council (IN-CFC) and DNR Community and Urban Forestry work together to host the Indiana Community and Urban Forestry Symposium each year. This symposium is open to tree board members, municipal staff, nonprofits, university faculty and staff, students, arborists, utility representatives, passionate volunteers, and anyone with an interest in urban forestry.

Tree City USA & National Arbor Day Foundation Programs

The Community & Urban Forestry program is a partner with the Tree City USA program. In 2022, Indiana had 65 Tree City USA communities, 16 Tree Campuses, 6 Tree Line USA, and one Tree Campus K-12 in West Lafayette.

Requirements for becoming a Tree City USA include:

  1. Appoint a tree board or city department to manage the tree care program.
  2. Have or pass a public tree care ordinance.
  3. Spend a minimum of $2 per capita on a community forestry program.
  4. Have an Arbor Day proclamation and hold an Arbor Day event.

National Arbor Day Foundation Programs

Northwest Indiana

Rensselaer Arbor Day Celebration – April 24 at 4 p.m.

  • Brookside Park – 524 W Jackson St, Rensselaer, IN 47978.
  • Activities include tree planting and tree giveaway.

Student Conservation Association & East Chicago Arbor Day Tree Planting – April 24 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

  • Marktown Indiana Recreation Center – 3509 Spruce Ave, East Chicago, IN 46312.
  • Volunteer activities include tree planting, watering, and mulching.

Northeast Indiana

Huntington Arbor Day Celebration – April 26 from 1-4 p.m.

  • Evergreen Park & Arboretum – 1370 Evergreen Rd Huntington, IN 46750.
  • Activities include workshops on invasives ID/removal and tree pruning, a biggest oak contest, live music and food vendors, environmentally-friendly vendors, free seedlings, raffle, and giveaways.

North Central Indiana

Elkhart Arbor Day Celebration – April 25 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

  • Elkhart Environmental Center – 1717 E Lusher Ave, Elkhart, IN 46516.
  • Activities include: native tree giveaway, kids activities, bluebird box workshop, vendors, and food trucks.

Goshen Arbor Day and Green Day Celebration – May 1, 5-9 p.m.

  • Elkhart County Courthouse Lawn – 101 N Main St Goshen, IN.
  • Activities include: kids tree climbing, tree planting, educational booths, student choirs and local band, food trucks, tree sapling giveaways.

South Bend Arbor Day Tree Giveaway – multiple dates

  • April 25 9:30-11:30 a.m. at O’Brien Park – 321 E. Walter St. South Bend, IN 46619.
  • May 2 9:30-11:30 a.m. at Howard Park – 219 S. Saint Louis Blvd. South Bend, IN 46617.

Syracuse Arbor Day Event – April 24 -2:30 p.m.

  • Harold Schrock Athletic Complex – 12166 N Kern Rd, Syracuse, IN 46567.
  • Featuring presentations from Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District, the Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams at Grace College, and the Town of Syracuse Tree Board for Syracuse Elementary School 3rd grade classes and the general public.

Wabash Valley

IU Health Arnett Hospital Tree Campus Celebration and Tree Planting – April 18 9-10 a.m.

  • IU Health Arnett Hospital – 5165 McCarty Ln, Lafayette, IN 47905.

Lafayette 2026 Arbor Day Tree Planting – May 2, 2026 8:30-11:30 a.m.

  • Corner of Commanche Trail & Chaucer Dr. in Pipers Glen Neighborhood, Lafayette 47909.

West Lafayette Arbor Day Celebration – April 24 9-11 a.m.

  • Location: Cason Family Park – 2500 Cumberland Ave, West Lafayette, IN 47906.
  • Join West Lafayette Tree Friends, Brookshire Preschool, city staff, and the mayor for a short talk on benefits of trees, tree planting demonstration, and a proclamation from the mayor. Participants will also have an opportunity to mulch and water young trees.

Central Indiana

Beech Grove - Going Green in the Grove – April 25 noon-3 p.m.

  • Hornet Park Community Center – 5254 Hornet Ave Indianapolis, IN 46203.
  • Activities include a tree sapling giveaway, petting zoo, bouquet making, take home seed/planter packs, environmentally friendly vendors, and more.

Brownsburg - Clean and Green: Earth-Arbor Day Celebration – Saturday April 25 9 a.m.-noon

  • Bundy Lodge – 7024 Lucas Dr, Brownsburg, IN 46112.
  • 9am-11am volunteer opportunities to help pull garlic mustard or pick up litter (Sign up here).
  • 11:30am tree planting demonstration.
  • 9am-noon free tree giveaways and Arbor Day activities.

Clermont Arbor Day Tree Planting – April 26 2-4 p.m.

  • Clermont Cemetery – 3522 Tansel Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46234
    Activities include: tree planting and tree giveaway

Franklin Liberty Tree Planting – April 25 10 a.m.

  • DriveHubler.com Amphitheater at Youngs Creek Park – 237 W. Monroe St. Franklin, Indiana 46131.
  • Planting an American Elm to celebrate the USA’s 250th anniversary.

Greenfield Arbor Day Celebration Tree Seedling Giveaway – April 25 beginning at 9 a.m.

  • Hancock Co. Courthouse Plaza – 9 E Main St #302 Greenfield, IN 46140.

Indianapolis – multiple events

  • Arbor Day Clean Up at the Kile Oak – Saturday April 25 starting at 8 a.m. at the Kile Oak (5939 Beechwood Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46219)
    • Tools will be provided by the Indiana Arborist Association.
    • Hosted by the Benton House in partnership with Irvington Historic Landmarks Foundation and Irvington Garden Club.
  • Flanner House Native Tree Distribution – Saturday April 18 11 a.m.- 2 p.m. (2424 Doctor M.L.K. Jr St, Indianapolis, IN 46208).

Plainfield Arbor Day Celebration – April 25 noon - 2 p.m.

  • Echo Hollow Nature Park – 7700 S. CR 975 E., Plainfield, IN 46168.
  • Activities include tree sapling giveaway, interactive exhibits and workshops on environmental stewardship for kids and adults, a petting zoo, and more.

Westfield Green Day – April 25, 2026, 11 a.m.- 1 p.m.

  • Grand Junction Plaza – 225 S. Union St Westfield, IN.
  • Activities include: native tree sapling giveaway, local organizations and vendors sharing tips and techniques to highlight green practices and initiatives at home and around the community.

Zionsville – multiple events

  • United Way Go All in Day: Tree Planting – April 24 10 a.m. - noon at Carpenter Nature Preserve (601 S 900 E Zionsville, IN 46077). Help plant trees to reforest an acre of the nature preserve.
  • Zionsville Greenfest: Bringing Nature Home – April 25 9 a.m. - noon at Heritage Trail Park (4050 S 875 E Zionsville, IN 46077). Learn about how to be environmentally friendly at this event with vendors and a native plant sale.

East Central Indiana

Montpelier Arbor Day Celebration – April 24 at 5 p.m.

  • Corner of N Main & Windsor St, Montpelier, IN 47359.
  • Event includes a liberty tree planting, raffle for a Norway Spruce, and refreshments.

Muncie Arbor Day Celebration – April 25 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

  • Center building, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens – 1200 North Minnetrista Parkway, Muncie, IN 47303.
  • Activities include: tree sapling giveaway, tree planting and care demonstration, family-friendly crafts, free raffle for trees, gardening items, and more.

Richmond Arbor Day Celebration – April 25 9 a.m. - noon

  • Arbor Day Hike - April 24 6 p.m. at Hayes Arboretum Nature Center
  • Arbor Day Celebration - April 25 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
    • Starr Gennett Building – 101 S 1st St, Richmond, IN 47374.
    • Activities include a tree seedling giveaway, tree planting demo, kids area with tree cookie painting and leaf rubbing, and collaborative community art piece.

Russiaville Arbor Day Celebration – multiple dates at the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library Russiaville (315 Mesa Dr, Russiaville, IN 46979)

  • Arbor Day Tree Giveaway – April 24 5:30-6:30 p.m.
  • Seed and Plant Swap – April 25 10 a.m.-  noon
  • Spring Your Yard to Life with the Howard County Recycling District – April 25 11 a.m. - 12 p.m.

West Central Indiana

Terre Haute Arbor Day Tree Planting – April 20 at 10:30 a.m.

  • Government Complex in between City Hall and the Vigo County Courthouse – 17 Harding Ave, Terre Haute, IN 47807
  • Terre Haute’s mayor and urban forester will lead a replanting of 4 trees which were previously lost at the government complex

South Central Indiana

Bloomington – multiple events

  • Sycamore Land Trust Arbor Day Tree Giveaway – Saturday April 25 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Bloomingfoods East (3220 E 3rd Street, Bloomington) and Near West Locations (316 W 6th Street, Bloomington)
  • City of Bloomington Arbor Day Tree Planting – April 24 from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Rogers Family Park (1600 E Elliston Dr Bloomington, IN 47401)

Southwest Indiana

Evansville Arbor Day & Tree Giveaway Celebration – April 24 at 10:30 a.m. CT

  • Wesselman Park – 551 N Boeke Rd Evansville, IN 47711

Santa Claus Earth Day/Arbor Day Celebration – April 25 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

  • Santa Claus Museum & Village – 69 State Road 245 Santa Claus, IN 47579.
  • Activities include tree seedling giveaway, chat with a Lincoln State Park naturalist, and soil sample kits giveaway from the Spencer County Soil & Water District.

Southeast Indiana

Greendale Arbor Day Tree Seedling Giveaway – Wednesday April 22 at noon through Friday April 24 3 p.m. while supplies last

  • Greendale Utility building – 510 Ridge Ave. Greendale, IN 47025.
  • Giving away 400 native tree seedlings.