Grow Greeley's Urban Forest

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the third community meeting on the Greeley's Urban Forest Strategic Plan!

Attendees learned how Greeley’s tree canopy has grown since 2009 and how sustainable forestry management helps support residents by reducing long-term maintenance costs, improving air quality and keeping neighborhoods cooler and more livable. If you could not attend the meeting, you can view the presentation here.

The plan’s goals include growing our urban forest equitably, strengthening partnerships for public and private land trees and continuing community programs like Share the Shade. You can view the plan here.

Key Goals of the Plan

1. Supporting informed, data-driven tree management.

2. Promoting equitable and resilient canopy growth citywide.

3. Increasing proactive care of public trees.

4. Continuing community programs like Share the Shade.

5. Strengthening collaboration across city departments.

6. Building strong regional partnerships.

Next Steps for Greeley's Urban Forest Strategic Plan
City Council will review the plan at the Oct. 28 work session

You can learn more about Share the Shade by visiting greeleyco.gov/forestry or on Speak Up Greeley to explore the full plan.

Meeting Presentation: https://speakupgreeley.com/25713/widgets/106063/documents/74161

Urban Forest Strategic Plan: https://speakupgreeley.com/25713/widgets/106063/documents/74017

What to Expect at the October 23 Meet-Up

Greeley's first-ever Urban Forest Strategic Plan was a collaborative effort. The project team spoke to and met with many individuals and groups to research and refine this 20-year guiding document. Thank you, Greeley, for your feedback and support of this plan. We are so excited to give people a sneak peek at the full plan and celebrate this exciting roadmap for Greeley. You can also hear about the numerous volunteer opportunities that help keep our trees healthy and thriving. Join us in celebrating and thank you for your support and advocacy in growing Greeley's urban forest.

What: Celebrate Greeley's first-ever Urban Forest Plan

Where: Zoe's Cafe, 715 10th St, Greeley

When: October 23, 6 - 7:30 p.m.

Cookies and punch provided

Thank you to the project team for making this plan come to life!

Volunteer Opportunities to Grow and Care for Greeley's Trees

Want to make a direct impact on Greeley's urban forest? Our new Urban Forest Strategic Plan identifies five ways residents can volunteer to support tree planting, monitoring, and education:

Tree Detectives: Use a simple app to walk neighborhoods and record tree health. Help us prioritize which trees need care first. This app is perfect for anyone who enjoys walking outdoors—no tree expertise required!

Backyard Forest Scout: Survey trees on private properties to track pests like emerald ash borer before they spread throughout our community.

Natural Areas Explorers: Catalog trees in Greeley's wild spaces to help manage wildfire risk and promote healthy ecosystems.

Tree Growth Trackers: Check on newly planted Share the Shade trees to ensure they thrive and receive proper care.

Welcome Ambassadors: Help create resources for new Greeley residents about tree care and local tree programs.

All training provided—no experience necessary! These volunteer roles directly support the goals of our 20-year Urban Forest Strategic Plan to expand tree canopy, increase species diversity, and build a healthier, more resilient community.

Ready to volunteer? Email Forestry@Greeleygov.com and the team will get back to you.

Since 2009, Greeley has added 618 acres of tree canopy, a 30% increase. We are excited to keep this momentum with your help! We just released our first Urban Forest Strategic Plan, which aims to make Greeley greener, shadier, and more beautiful over the next twenty years. Greeley is experiencing rapid growth and we are proud to have this roadmap to keep our canopy thriving.

Read the whole plan.

What's in the Plan

Between July 2024 and September 2025, our Forestry team partnered with residents, City departments, and tree experts to create this 20-year roadmap.

The plan is designed to be flexible and we'll regularly evaluate what's working and adjust our approach as Greeley grows and new challenges emerge.

What's Changing Now (2025):

• Forestry now maintains parkway trees (between sidewalk and curb). This is no longer the homeowner's responsibility
• Free trees continue through Share the Shade program
• More proactive tree care instead of waiting for problems

Tree Benefits You'll See:

• Cooler streets and lower energy bills (trees reduce summer temps and your AC bill)
• Cleaner air and better stormwater management
• Safer neighborhoods (trees slow traffic)
• Higher property values

Growth Goals:

• Current: 8.2% tree cover citywide
• Potential: Could reach 15% if all high-priority areas are planted
• Most growth happens in residential neighborhoods (where 81% of trees already are)

Volunteer Opportunities:

• 5 ways to help: tree monitoring, pest tracking, growth tracking, natural areas surveys, welcoming new residents
• No experience needed - all training provided

Tree Protection:

• New requirements to protect trees during construction
• Focus on diverse, climate-resilient species (including drought-tolerant trees)
• Special attention to ash trees (emerald ash borer threat)

Community Resources:

• New brochure for residents about tree care and local laws
• Multi-lingual educational materials
• Free wood chips/compost
• Water-wise tree care guidance

The Big Picture: 618 acres, or a 30% increase in new trees, have been added since 2009. The plan ensures this growth continues sustainably for the next 20 years.

How You Can Help Support This Plan

We're seeking volunteers to help with tree monitoring, planting, and education. No green thumb required. If you are passionate about trees and keeping Greeley a great place to live, consider volunteering.

Read the full plan here.

Greeley's youngest residents became official "tree caretakers" this week when the City of Greeley Forestry team brought their "Giving Tree" program to D6 kindergarten classes.

The visits were perfectly timed with classroom tree studies, as students learned proper tree care techniques from forestry experts. Each child received their own Spruce tree to plant at home. The trees came individually sealed for easy transport home. City staff from the Culture Parks and Recreation Departments read The Giving Tree to students as they followed along with commands such as a tree stretch, waving hands for wind and thumbs up or down for what trees need to survive and thrive.

Did you receive a "Giving Tree" during your elementary school days? If your tree is still thriving, we'd love to feature you! If you have a "grown up" tree now, please reach out to ce@greeleygov.com.

Trees transform urban spaces, providing essential benefits to both cities and residents. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, trees improve air quality, reduce temperatures through shade and evaporation, and help manage stormwater runoff.

Greeley's "Share the Shade" program offers free trees to property owners to expand the city's urban canopy. This initiative addresses the need for more trees while engaging community members in environmental stewardship.

Benefits include:

• Lower cooling costs through strategic shade
• Increased property values
• Reduced carbon emissions
• Improved mental health and wellbeing
• Enhanced wildlife habitat and biodiversity

By participating in Share the Shade, Greeley residents contribute to a greener, healthier community while enjoying immediate benefits on their own property. The program represents a simple yet effective approach to urban forest management that benefits everyone.

The first community meeting for this plan was a great stepping stone to determine what residents think about trees and tree care in our city. Over 50 community members came to hear about the project and share their feedback on five large boards. This feedback will be valuable in shaping the plan.

Here is what we have heard so far:

What Residents Value Most

• Cooling shade (24%)
• Wildlife habitat (15%)
• Property beautification (12%)
• Health benefits (9%)

Key Concerns

• Sidewalk/street damage (24%)
• Visibility issues (21%)
• Water requirements (15%)
• Utility damage (9%)

Watering Practices

• 89% of respondents water their trees
• Most use in-ground irrigation (41%)
• 14% practice winter watering

Neighborhood Observations

Residents noted issues with:

• New development tree placement
• Tree removal without replacement
• Species selection concerns
• Need for more trees along sidewalks
• Educational outreach gaps

Next steps: Staff will compile all feedback for the project team to review and determine next steps.