Parks' neighborhood tree planting will prioritize heat-vulnerable areas; activists want faster timelines and funding

Parks described a neighborhood tree planting program that shifts the agency from a request-driven planting model to a data-driven, concentrated approach that prioritizes Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) 4 and 5 neighborhoods. Commissioner Shimamura told the committee that the new approach aims to plant strategically across every community district and that a significant share of each community district will receive new trees at least once every three years under the nine-year implementation plan.

Parks and MOCJ said the city will use LiDAR surveys and a five-year canopy monitoring cadence to track progress and to target resources where canopy is lowest. Officials said that earlier planting cycles delivered recent gains in central Brooklyn, upper Manhattan and the Bronx, while eastern Queens and waterfront communities experienced losses (largely due to development and storm damage).

Multiple council members and witnesses argued the nine-year timeline is politically and practically long and urged the city to explore parallel or accelerated procurement and hiring to increase annual planting rates. Parks said planting costs citywide have fallen in recent years (agency testimony cited an average planting cost that fell from ~$3,550 per tree in FY22 to ~$2,900 citywide currently) and that recruiting and vendor outreach have increased competition. Advocates urged the city to baseline funding and expand workforce development and steward training to ensure new trees survive.