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West Palm Beach adopts goal to grow tree canopy to 25% by 2035
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Summary
The City Commission unanimously adopted Resolution 87-26, accepting a tree canopy analysis and setting a target of 25% coverage by 2035. Staff said reaching the goal requires about 12,000 additional trees over 10–12 years, with the city responsible for roughly 252 plantings annually.
The West Palm Beach City Commission unanimously approved Resolution 87-26 on April 13, accepting a city analysis that sets a target of 25% tree canopy coverage by 2035.
Victor Carosi, the city’s public utilities director, told commissioners the report recommends a modest net gain in canopy: “What we're looking for is a goal of approximately 25% of canopy coverage for the city by the year 2035,” and explained the change amounts to less than a 1% increase from the city’s current measured canopy of just over 24%.
Carosi and the Office of Sustainability said reaching the target would require planting roughly 12,000 additional trees over the next 10–12 years and that the city’s share of that work would be about 252 trees per year. Heidi King, the city’s sustainability manager, described multiple benefits from a larger canopy, including cooling neighborhoods, improving air quality and stormwater filtration and supporting wildlife in local wetlands such as Grassy Waters Preserve.
Commissioners and the public raised questions about tree survival and maintenance. Commissioner Warren (Fox) noted neighborhood concerns that replacement trees are often small and can die; Commissioner Ward urged careful due diligence to preserve mature trees where possible. Public commenter Michael Cleveland said he supports the canopy but asked what the city would do about leaf litter and clogged drains, asking, “What are we gonna do about the leaves of the foliage that falls down?”
Carosi and staff said implementation will be phased and will include neighborhood engagement to tailor plantings and maintenance plans, and that typical development removal provisions—either replanting or in-lieu payments—would apply when trees must be removed. If accepted, the Office of Sustainability will begin work on implementation plans and community outreach.
Resolution 87-26 passed with no recorded opposition; staff said the next steps are developing detailed, neighborhood-level implementation plans and returning to the commission with those plans.
