It’s free tree season. The New York Restoration Project (NYRP) on Monday announced plans to dole out 3,500 trees across the city during its annual tree giveaway. Registration is now open to receive a free tree during 20+ events starting April 13 through May 12.
NYRP will be giving away 30 different native tree species, including American Persimmon, American Plum, Beach Plum, Black Cherry, Eastern Redbud, Elderberry, Fragrant Sumac, Pagoda Dogwood, Red Maple, Sweetbay Magnolia, and more. A full list of tree species can be found here.
NYRP began hosting tree giveaways in 2008 as part of MillionTreesNYC, an initiative led in partnership with the city’s Parks Department that concluded in 2015. Since then, NYRP has continued its giveaway program and will have distributed more than 75,000 trees in total at the end of this season.
The giveaways help contribute to NYC’s environmental resilience by expanding its canopy and providing shade, creating habitat for wildlife, reducing temperatures, improving air quality, and mitigating storm water run-off.
Partners and locations for the giveaway events are as follows:
Jackson Heights Beautification Group & Council Member Shekar Krishnan — April 13, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
New York Public Library Morissania Branch — April 13, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Bissel Gardens & State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey — April 14, 10 a.m. -12 p.m.
Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden — April 14, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Wyckoff House Museum & Council Member Farah Louis — April 20, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Bronx River Alliance (1490 Sheridan Blvd., Bronx, NY 10459) — April 20, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Stewards of Ewen Park, Tibbetts Brook Beautification Association, & Kingsbridge Heights Community Center — April 21, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Discovery Community Gardens & New York City Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams — April 21, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
RISE Rockaway, Council Member Selvena Brooks-Powers, the New York Islanders, and National Grid — April 27, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Queens Botanical Garden & Assemblywoman Nily Rozic — April 27, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
The Green-Wood Cemetery — April 28, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Bronx Land Trust — April 28, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Red Hook Farms — May 4, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Brooklyn Public Library Brownsville Branch — May 4, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
H.E.A.L.T.H. for Youths & Westervelt Family and Community Garden — May 5, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Java Street Community Garden & Council Member Lincoln Restler — May 5, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Brooklyn Public Library Marcy Branch & Council Member Chi Ossé — May 11, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Citizens Fordham Road Branch — May 11, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Citizens Avenue U Branch — May 11, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
New York Public Library Westchester Square Branch — May 11, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
HELP USA — May 12, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Brotherhood Sister Sol, West Harlem Art Fund & Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine — May 12, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
“New York Restoration Project is thrilled to reach our 75,000th free tree milestone this season,” Lynn Bodnar Kelly, executive director of NYRP, said. “This beloved program continues to spread the undeniable benefits of our urban tree canopy to the neighborhoods that need them most. Our city must get more trees in the ground if we want to truly increase New York’s environmental resilience.”
Those interested in getting a free tree must register in advance here.
20+ free tree giveaways to take place across NYC this spring
March 4, 2024
All images courtesy of New York Restoration Project