The city of Aurora has officially launched its tree-planting initiative, “Reinvesting in Aurora’s Urban Canopy for Social Equity and Climate Resilience,” with the objective of planting 2,000 trees through 2028.

This project emphasizes community outreach and engagement, featuring multilingual communications and events that foster connections among residents, and is led by the city of Aurora’s Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department in collaboration with the Office of International and Immigrant Affairs.

Community members are invited to participate, learn about the benefits of trees and engage with neighbors.

Tree-planting initiatives in your neighborhood

As part of the “Reinvesting in Aurora’s Urban Canopy for Social Equity and Climate Resilience” initiative, some homeowners will receive a notice informing them that a city tree will be planted in the public right-of-way—the space between the sidewalk and the street—in front of their home. A sign, along with a white mark, will be placed in the area where the tree will be planted.

This is a free service offered by the city of Aurora, and the trees that will be planted are chosen to suit the selected location. The city will water the tree during its first year. After that, we ask homeowners to help with watering as needed, especially during dry weather. If the tree leans slightly at first, that is normal; most young trees straighten as they mature. Additionally, forestry staff will return after planting to ensure that the tree is healthy.

Planting more trees helps expand our city’s tree canopy and improve our neighborhoods. For questions regarding tree planting, 811 locate, tree pruning, tree removal, stump grinding, or any other inquiries about operational schedules, please contact SAVATREE at 303.337.6200.

To opt out and NOT receive a new tree, please complete the form linked below. For questions about the opt-out process, contact [email protected].

Community Impact

Let’s build a greener and more inclusive Aurora for today’s and future generations!

"Greener Communities, Brighter Futures" is the motto of this initiative, which, in its first component, focuses on extending the lifespan of mature trees through tree planting, maintenance and pruning while also introducing a variety of new tree species in local neighborhoods. The second component involves engaging local communities in tree planting, tree pruning and other educational activities where residents can also learn about the different programs and resources available through the city.

Some of the initiative's accomplishments in the year 2024 included:

• Planting 105 new trees in three public parks.

• Removing 39 dead trees from public parks and facilities.

• Updating city inventories with 1,421 existing park trees.

• Participation in more than 40 community events reaching out to more than 3,500 residents during the past 10 months.

• Increased participation of immigrants and refugees in several OIIA sponsored programs such Natural Helpers, ESL and Citizenship Classes and cultural activities among others.

• This initiative seeks to plant 2,000 trees across culturally diverse neighborhoods in Aurora through 2028, and this year's goal is to plant 1,000 more trees.

These efforts also enhance and expand key initiatives stated in the city’s Immigrant Integration Plan. As the most diverse city in Colorado, Aurora has large communities of immigrants and refugees, and many of these communities reside in areas with the oldest trees and many open planting spaces. By focusing the program in these areas, the city of Aurora will promote equity, enhance the urban forest, improve public health and foster environmental resilience.

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Tree Planting Day at Montview Park

Date: Saturday, Oct. 18

Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Location: Montview Park, 1901 Chester St.

Help us grow something great, register now at the city of Aurora volunteer opportunities page.

Tree Planting Day at Nome Park

Date: Saturday, Nov. 1

Time: 9 a.m. to noon

Location: Nome Park, 1200 Nome St.

Visit the city of Aurora volunteer opportunities page to register for this event. 

For questions and more information, contact [email protected].

Community Events

Learn more about this initiative's community events watching this story from AuroraTV.

Funding

“Reinvesting in Aurora’s Urban Canopy for Social Equity and Climate Resilience” is funded by a $5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service to support the city’s urban forest growth and maintenance. The grant is part of a $1.5 billion investment in the USDA Forest Service’s nationwide Urban and Community Forestry Program, made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act.