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Portland Parks & Recreation’s Urban Forestry staff and volunteers work together to plant replacement trees in parks and on public properties.
Program Overview
The Park and Inter Agency Tree Replacement program, focuses on replanting trees in developed city parks. Most trees replaced through this program were removed because they were dead, dying, dangerous, or had failed. When possible, new trees are also planted in parks that need more canopy coverage.
After a review period involving city stakeholders, trees are selected and procured from local nurseries. The trees are planted starting in mid-November by Urban Forestry staff and volunteers. Each tree receives three years of care to ensure successful establishment. Use the request form on this page to recommend a park or public property that would benefit from having more trees.
Eligibility
This program is only for developed parks in Portland. It does not include natural areas or environmental zones. We prioritize plantings in parks with low canopy and available space.
Interest Form – Request a Park Tree
To request trees to be planted at a park near you, fill out the Community Tree Planting Interest form:
Volunteer
If you would like to volunteer at one of our tree planting events at a Portland park, visit our volunteer page to look at and sign up for our upcoming volunteer events.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why replace trees in parks, doesn’t Portland have enough trees?
Trees provide essential services for all Portlanders. They cool down our parks, clean the air, buffer noise and improve our mental and physical health. On top of all of this, they provide year-round beauty.
Replacing trees that die in our Parks ensures that our forests will not disappear over time. A strong urban canopy includes both mature trees and younger ones growing to take their place. Some of our parks are already full of trees, which is why we move those replacements to parks that could use a little more shade.
What types of trees are planted?
We prioritize planting large, evergreen, and native trees—chosen for their environmental benefits. Our Urban Forestry team carefully selects trees that will thrive in each location, ensuring they’re well-suited to the space. Healthy trees mean less maintenance and longer lives. At planting, trees are already five to 10 feet tall, making an immediate and beautiful difference in the park.
What other tree planting programs does Urban Forestry have?
We have many programs under Urban Forestry. You can find them in the related section above. Here is a list of all of our programs:
Who pays for this?
This program is funded by the General Fund.
What is Urban Forestry?
Urban Forestry is a division of Portland Parks & Recreation. Urban Forestry's mission is to manage and ensure Portland's urban forest infrastructure for current and future generations. Urban Forestry is committed to working with property owners, residents, contractors, and communities to enhance the urban forest and optimize the services that trees provide us all.