Mayor Bill Cox declared November 2025 Arbor Day for the City of McKinney and urged residents to support local tree-protection efforts.

The proclamation, read at the start of the city’s work session, traced Arbor Day’s origins to 1872 and described benefits of trees, saying they "can reduce the erosion of our precious topsoil by wind and water, cut heating and cooling cost, moderate the temperature, clean the air, produce life giving oxygen, and provide habitats for wildlife." The proclamation cites McKinney’s tree preservation ordinance and notes the city’s Tree City USA designation.

City staff announced a Share the Shade giveaway scheduled for Nov. 8, 2025, from 9 a.m. to noon. Staff said 200 trees will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis; the event will include booths from natural-resources organizations and city departments. A city spokesperson said the giveaway is intended to support both understory and overstory canopy.

The proclamation and event materials ask residents to celebrate Arbor Day and to support local efforts to protect the urban forest. No formal council action was taken on the proclamation during the work session.