Thanks to the Trees for Nebraska Towns Initiative, a partnership between PlantNebraska (formerly the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum) and the Nebraska Forest Service, York Parks and Recreation will receive trees for the fourth consecutive year.
The obvious benefits of community trees are shade and beauty, but they provide so much more—including increased comfort, improved public health, energy savings, and a wide range of social, economic, and environmental benefits. Despite these advantages, most Nebraska communities have lost far more trees than they have planted in recent decades. Extreme weather, insects, disease, and a lack of species diversity have all contributed to this decline, with the Emerald Ash Borer presenting one of the most significant current threats.
Like many Nebraska communities, York has experienced tree loss from severe storms, aging trees, and the natural decline of mature trees. This grant provides an opportunity to restore key park areas with a more diverse and resilient mix of tree species, helping ensure a healthier urban forest for future generations.
This year’s trees will be planted at East Hill Park and Miller Park, where they will replace trees lost to storms and age while strengthening York’s tree canopy. Expanding the community’s tree canopy not only enhances the beauty of these parks but also creates cooler gathering spaces, improves air quality, supports local wildlife, and helps ensure these parks remain welcoming community destinations for years to come. The new plantings will provide more shade, improve park aesthetics, and contribute to healthier, more resilient public spaces for residents and visitors alike.
“We’re grateful for partners like PlantNebraska and the Nebraska Forest Service who continue to invest in communities like York,” said Parks and Recreation Director Cheree Folts. “Grant opportunities like this allow us to stretch local resources while making meaningful improvements to our parks. Every tree we plant today is an investment in a healthier, more beautiful, and more resilient community for future generations.”
In an effort to reverse this trend and increase the resilience of Nebraska’s community forests, the Trees for Nebraska Towns program provides high-quality trees for community projects, celebrations, and educational events that promote trees and fall planting.
The program’s goals extend beyond simply planting more trees. It also seeks to increase awareness of the tremendous value community forests provide while encouraging greater species diversity and supporting high-impact projects, particularly street tree plantings and projects in neighborhoods with the greatest need.
PlantNebraska’s Trees for Nebraska Towns Initiative is funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust and the USDA Forest Service through grants awarded to both PlantNebraska and the Nebraska Forest Service.