Want more trees on your street? We can help with that—all for free through the power of community!
Trees make great neighbors. From improved health to reduced energy costs, to more natural beauty, everyone who wants to have a tree near their home should have one. If your block could use more trees, Friends of Grand Rapids Parks’ Green Your Block program is your resource for planting free street trees in your neighborhood.
Friends of Grand Rapids Parks’ Green Your Block program gives free street trees to qualifying participants. Through this program, participants coordinate with their neighbors to identify residents who want a free tree. Trees are planted in collaboration with tree recipients, their neighbors, and Friends volunteers! To date, residents have planted over 460!
Anyone in Grand Rapids can request to plant free trees in the right-of-way (the grass between the sidewalk and the road). The more information you can provide, the better!
Our Certified Arborists assess applications based on location, neighborhood tree canopy, existing trees and their conditions, and other factors to determine who might be a good fit for Green Your Block! Our goal is to plant 10 or more trees at a time.
If you’re selected, our team will coordinate with you to do outreach to neighbors and pick a tree-planting date. As the program applicant, we rely on you to reach out to neighbors about the opportunity, and will provide supporting materials to educate and inform. An explicit “yes” is required from neighbors in order to plant a tree near their home.
We’ll handle the logistics for your tree planting! We choose the trees, obtain permits, mark utilities, tools, manage tools and training, and schedule tree delivery.
You do not need to plant trees with us in order to receive one, but it is nice to work together. Likewise, we invite neighbors to plant trees, even if they don’t receive a tree. Our team will provide all the tools and training needed so all you need to focus on is having a nice time.
Once trees are planted, you and your neighbors are responsible for their care. Weekly watering in particular is essential for the wellbeing of new urban trees. We will provide all the resources and information you need to care for your trees and continued support as they settle into their new homes.
Anyone in Grand Rapids can request to plant free trees in the right-of-way (the grass between the sidewalk and the road). The more information you can provide, the better!
Our Certified Arborists assess applications based on location, neighborhood tree canopy, existing trees and their conditions, and other factors to determine who might be a good fit for Green Your Block! Our goal is to plant 10 or more trees at a time.
If you’re selected, our team will coordinate with you to do outreach to neighbors and pick a tree-planting date. As the program applicant, we rely on you to reach out to neighbors about the opportunity, and will provide supporting materials to educate and inform. An explicit “yes” is required from neighbors in order to plant a tree near their home.
We’ll handle the logistics for your tree planting! We choose the trees, obtain permits, mark utilities, tools, manage tools and training, and schedule tree delivery.
You do not need to plant trees with us in order to receive one, but it is nice to work together. Likewise, we invite neighbors to plant trees, even if they don’t receive a tree. Our team will provide all the tools and training needed so all you need to focus on is having a nice time.
Once trees are planted, you and your neighbors are responsible for their care. Weekly watering in particular is essential for the wellbeing of new urban trees. We will provide all the resources and information you need to care for your trees and continued support as they settle into their new homes.
Participants can request certain tree species—requests we take into careful consideration. However, our team is bound by the Arborist code of ethics, so we will plant trees that are best for the health of Grand Rapids’ urban forest and approved by the city forester.
Nope! The Friends team will teach participants how to plant trees and provide any tools, so no experience needed. We also recognize that not everyone who wants a tree can be present for the planting, or physically able to help plant, and we do not want this to be a barrier for someone to receive a tree. We encourage those present to participate at the level they’re comfortable with!
Yes! We are careful to plant trees to avoid growing into power lines, sewer and water mains, and visibility from driveways. We also choose trees that are less likely to interfere with utilities compared to trees planted in the past.
While our team loves fruit trees, they’re not an ideal fit as a street tree, where they are exposed to a harsher environment than in a backyard, and their dropped fruit and low branches often contribute to reduced sidewalk accessibility. Check out our tree giveaway events in the spring and fall, though, to scoop up a fruit tree for your back yard!
Residents will be responsible for watering their free tree. For the tree to survive, it needs 10 gallons of water per week for the first two summers. We provide information on tree care to anyone who receives a tree.
The Friends forestry team! You can send us an email at forestry@friendsofgrparks.org, or you can give us a call at (616) 288-7209.
Trees offer amazing benefits, especially in the city!
Improved physical health, including lowered blood pressure, reduced asthma, and lower rate of pain medication usage. Trees also encourage healthy outdoor activity!
Better mental health, including reduced cortisol and adrenaline, lowered anxiety and depression, and more peaceful neighborhoods.
Lower energy costs, including using the AC 30% less in the summer and heating 25% less in the winter.
Trees promote healthy environments by reducing runoff and erosion, regulating precipitation, and cutting down on air pollution.
Trees are also beautiful—and that’s reason enough to want more of them on your block!
One of the things we love most about trees is their power to bring the community together—especially when we get to plant and care for them with our neighbors. Green Your Block is a great way to not just add more trees to your street, but to get to know the people close to you and build stronger relationships in the place we call home.
To apply for a Green Your Block project, please fill out this form! We look forward to reviewing your application!
Neighborhood associations, community groups, and engaged residents in Grand Rapids.
Trees, planting tools, expert guidance, and ongoing support for successful growth.
Organize your neighbors, participate in planting, and help maintain the trees.
If no events are listed below, check back later! Tree giveaways are seasonal in the spring and fall.
Get trees, planting assistance, and ongoing maintenance guidance at no cost.
Build stronger neighborhoods while improving our urban environment.
Simple application process with dedicated support throughout.
