Street Trees and Landscaping | City of Bloomington, Indiana

Page last updated on November 18, 2025 at 10:53 am

Planting, maintenance, and removal of trees on city property, in the public right of way, and along city streets is provided by the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department's Urban Forestry Program.

Tree Assistance Program

Eligible homeowners can apply for financial assistance for tree removal, pruning, and planting on land inside Bloomington's city limits. Learn about the Tree Assistance Program.

Arbor Day

Celebrate Arbor Day in Indiana on the last Friday in April and continue Bloomington's tree-planting tradition!

Friday, April 24 from 9 a.m.-noon at Rogers Family Park, 2000 E. Winslow Rd. in Bloomington

Assist Parks and Recreation urban forestry staff as they plant trees along the Jackson Creek Trail, and take home a free tree seedling while supplies last. Tree planting volunteers will help dig and widen holes to plant balled and burlapped trees, move trees into planting position, and spread mulch. Volunteers ages 14 yrs. and older are welcome!

Gloves and shovels are provided; meet at the red barn at Rogers Family Park. Vehicle parking is available inside the entrance to Rogers Family Park south of the Winslow-High-Rogers roundabout. Additional vehicle parking is available at Sherwood Oaks Park and at Olcott Park.

Bicentennial Bond Tree Planting Project

2024 Arbor Day Poster Contest

Arbor Day poster contest 2024 winning design by Bloomington artist Matt Rushton

Artist Matt Rushton of Bloomington designed the winning poster for the 2024 Arbor Day poster contest celebrating Bloomington's 40th anniversary of being named a Tree City USA. Matt's design, "A Legacy of Leaves: 40 Years of Putting Down Roots" will be featured on the cover of the Parks and Recreation program guide. Matt was recognized by Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson at an Arbor Day ceremony Friday, April 26, 2024 at Crestmont Park.

Recent News

Arbor Day Poster Contest Commemorates 40 Years of Tree Stewardship in Bloomington

Bloomington Recognized by The Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree City of the World

City of Bloomington's Switchyard Park Recognized for Outstanding Urban Forestry, Native Landscaping

Indiana's First Tree City USA

Bloomington was recognized by the National Arbor Day Foundation in 1984 as Indiana's first Tree City USA. Bloomington has each year since 1984 successfully met all the criteria necessary to keep its Tree City USA designation: a tree board or department; a tree care ordinance; a community forestry program with an annual budget of at least $2 per capita; and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.

TreeKeeper: See live information about public trees and their benefits

Report a Hazardous Tree

Find a Certified Arborist

Bloomington, IN Urban Forest Assessment Story Map 2019

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why do we plant trees?

Trees have so many different direct and indirect benefits, and in private tree planting I think the focus is usually on a singular direct benefit, shade, fruit, aethstetic etc. Whereas for us as a city we look at trees as a vital piece of infrastructure that goes towards benefitting the greater common good. We plant trees as a tool to combat some of our bigger threats in climate change, and heat island effects but also those ideas that maybe go unnoticed, like that intrinsic value of a tree lined street that greets you on your way home after work, or the shaded playground near the house that the kids spend every minute they can at. Giving local insects, birds, squirrels and several thousand other species of critters a home, a food source and a means to survive the urban environment. To some a tree is "just" a tree, but to us as a city and a community they are so much more.

How do I know if a tree is a City tree?

Trees located on City properties, such as Parks properties, are City trees. Many trees located along the street in tree lawns or tree planting strips are City trees, along with trees within the public right of way in areas without designated tree lawns. The TreeKeeper website has an inventory of Street trees and some Park trees and can help determine if a tree is a City tree: https://bloomingtonin.treekeepersoftware.com/.

I want to remove or prune a street tree in front of my home, what do I do?

Anyone wanting to plant, cut, remove, or treat a City tree shall submit a Tree Work Permit. Click here to download and fill out a Tree Work Permit application, and email the completed application to the city's Urban Forester, Haskell Smith, at [email protected]. Call 812-349-3700 to request a paper copy of the Tree Work Permit application.

Help! I am worried the tree in front of my home is dead, what do I do?

If the tree is a City tree, please either submit a uReport (https://bloomington.in.gov/ureport) reporting the potentially hazardous tree, or contact the Urban Forester, Haskell Smith, at 812-349-3716, to report the tree. Tree removal requests will be reviewed by the Urban Forestry staff, with the decision to remove a given tree based on the condition of the tree and any other relevant information.

I'm worried about a tree on my private property, can you look at it?

The Urban Forestry staff does not manage trees on private property, and can not provide care advice on private property trees. Please contact a certified Arborist to obtain tree care advise and services for private property trees: https://www.treesaregood.org/findanarborist/findanarborist

There is a tree growing up into the utility wires, who should I call?

Please contact the responsible power company, such as Duke Energy, (800) 521-2232. https://www.duke-energy.com/customer-service/request-tree-trimming

For more information about purchasing a Memorial or Honorary Tree or for more information about making a donation to the Bloomington Tree Fund, contact Haskell Smith, Urban Forester, at [email protected] or 812-349-3716.

For technical information about Bloomington's urban forest, or to report a hazardous tree or tree problem in a city park, contact Urban Forester Haskell Smith at 812-349-3716.

Urban Tree Canopy Assessment Summary Report

Presented by Davey Resource Group, September 2019

Memorial/Honorary Tree and Bench Programs

Remember a loved one or honor someone with a tree or bench in one of Bloomington's city parks.

Tree Commission

The Tree Commission assists with urban forestry and public education on the care of trees

Downtown Square Tree Campaign

Sponsor a tree surrounding the courthouse square

Emerald Ash Borer

The EAB Management Program for ash trees within the city limits

Bloomington Urban Forestry Plan

The Urban Forestry plan is a reasonable and responsible plan to make the City and its neighborhoods healthier for humans, more aesthetically pleasing, and to reduce tree-related problems.