Lakewood tree board doubles giveaway, urges city funding for tree education and protection

The Lakewood Tree Advisory and Education Board told the city’s Public Works and Sustainability Committee on April 21 that it will double its tree‑giveaway program in 2025 and recommended adding an education fund and other supports to improve newly planted tree survival.

The advisory board’s chair, Linda Granstaff, and board member Mary Kennedy briefed the committee on 2024 activities and the board’s priorities for 2025. Granstaff said the board’s mission is to “collaborat[e] with the City on the tree policies and practices, the, promoting the City’s tree programs, and educating residents, regarding, responsible tree stewardship and the benefits of trees on private property.” She told the committee the board is focused on increasing Lakewood’s tree canopy to 33.5 percent by 2035.

The board said the pilot community canopy giveaway in 2024 — two distributions of 100 trees each — “sold out in hours,” Kennedy said, and that the city will expand the program in 2025 to 200 trees in the spring and 200 in the fall. Granstaff and Kennedy said the increase, together with the city’s public plantings, would raise the number of new trees planted across public and private property this year to roughly 800.

Why it matters: The board framed its recommendations as practical steps to improve long‑term canopy coverage and tree survival. Members said new trees need watering and protection in their first years and that outreach must reach neighborhoods with lower participation rates, particularly Ward 4.

Board activities and requests - Tree giveaway: The board ran two giveaways in 2024 (spring and fall) in partnership with the National Arbor Day Foundation and city staff; volunteers and local groups helped distribute trees and run planting demonstrations. Kennedy said the 2024 events “sold out in hours.” - 2025 expansion: The board secured increased funding to offer 200 trees at each giveaway in 2025 and said the spring event was scheduled for pickup at Bernice Pike Park from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Saturday). The board plans a participant survey in May 2025 to track survival and gather feedback. - Maintenance and protection: The board said it successfully advocated for seasonal help and a watering truck to support newly planted trees and is pressing for more deer protection and construction‑site tree protections after reporting damage to park trees from nearby construction. - Species and equity: The board said it is shifting species toward more native and smaller trees appropriate for smaller lots, and is using mapping (ArcGIS) to target outreach in under‑served areas; Granstaff said Ward 4 was notably under‑represented among giveaway recipients. - Outreach and partnerships: Planned outreach includes StoryWalks with the Lakewood Public Library, collaboration with Lakewood High School horticulture programs, engagement with the Lakewood Garden Club, and exploratory work on an arboretum concept for Lakewood Park.

Council reaction and next steps Council members praised the board’s volunteer work and educational focus. Council Member Brian Evans moved to receive and file the board’s report; the motion passed. Several council members urged printed outreach materials for residents who do not use the city website, and suggested the education fund the board proposed could cover printed brochures and youth programs.

Board members asked the city to ensure contractors and frontline crews follow tree‑protection guidance during sidewalk and utility work; several council members said they want city staff to coordinate earlier with forestry on construction projects to reduce unintended tree loss.

The board asked the city to prioritize outreach and resources for areas with lower canopy gain and to continue monitoring survival of giveaway trees. The committee accepted the update and the board said it will report back after the May participant survey and after the upcoming giveaway events.

Ending: The advisory board left the committee with specific, near‑term requests — funding for education and watering, improved construction‑site protections, and targeted outreach — that the committee and administration said they would continue to evaluate as part of budget and operations planning.