Tree Assisstance Program

Introduction

The City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department recognizes that there are often steep costs associated with tree removal, mitigation, and tree planting. The purpose of the Tree Assistance Program is to assist City of Bloomington residents who are unable to fully afford tree care. Below are the description and stipulations of the program.

Apply for the Tree Assistance Program

Applications for work to take place in Spring 2026 are accepted Aug. 1-Oct. 1, 2025.

The applicant's income must fall within the scale provided in this document to be considered for assistance. Applications must include proof of income upon submittal.

Goals and Objectives

• Improve the quality of life, safety, and health of Bloomington residents
• Provide assistance to qualifying homeowners for high-risk tree removal, tree hazard mitigation, and tree planting
• Strengthen the urban forestry program and provide community engagement
• Promote risk management and long-term tree health
• Realize long-term community tree benefits, including increasing canopy coverage on private property, improving storm resiliency, increasing species diversity, reducing heat island effects and increasing air, soil, and water quality
• Support Indiana tree nurseries and local arboricultural businesses and non-profits

Eligibility and Priority

Funding awards must follow these criteria:

• The property where the work is to be completed must be within City of Bloomington municipal limits. Find boundaries in one comprehensive community map on Bloomington GeoHub.
• The property must be the primary residence of the applicant.
• The applicant's income must fall within the scale provided in this document to be considered for assistance. Proof of income must be included upon submittal.
• The work to be completed must be eligible through the approved tree work listed in this document.
• Applicants must agree and sign an agreement to be responsible for paying any costs incurred over the assistance amount provided by the City of Bloomington.
• A new tree must be planted in place of any tree that is removed.
• Priority shall be determined by the Review Committee and according to best management practices for reisk assessment andmitigation.
• If a tree is straddling a property line, either affected property owner may submit an application, but both affected property owners must agree and sign the affidavit for the work to proceed.

Work types covered under the Tree Assistance Program:

1. High-risk tree removal
2. High-risk tree mitigation (e.g. pruning)
3. Tree planting or replanting

Award amounts based on area median income (AMI):

Proof of income shall follow the same standards that apply to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs. Proof of income can include recent pay stubs, the most recent federal income tax return (Form 1040/1040A), a notarized statement or affidavit signed by the applicant showing income and pay period, and a Social Security number. Essentially, any document that clearly demonstrates the applicant's income level and source of income. Income verification must be submitted with application.

Single Income Scale (a single person is the earner of the household)

Dual Income Scale (two people are earners of the household)

Application Process and Timeline

1. Applications will be accepted via email or by U.S. mail, or can be taken to the Parks and Recreation office at 401 N. Morton St. Ste. 250 inside Bloomington's City Hall.  Applications must include proof of income upon submittal. Pictures of requested high-risk tree removals are also helpful, but not mandatory. There are two annual application windows:
   1. Applications are accepted between Aug. 1 and Oct. 1 for the spring season
   2. Applications are accepted between March 1 and May 1 for the fall season
2. Once an application period closes, the review committee shall convene to:
   1. Determine which applications meet eligibility requirements
   2. Create a prioritized list of which applications to fund
   3. Determine the level of funding to allocate to each application
   4. A prioritized list of alternate awards and amounts to be given in case an applicant that was awarded funding must withdraw or the work cannot be completed.
3. After the application review is complete, site visits shall be scheduled to:
   1. Determine the exact nature of the work to be completed
   2. Document (via photographs) evidence of the need
   3. Create a short report on tree work to be done including information about size, species, location, tree replacement, and other relevant information
   4. Have the applicant sign an agreement, right of entry, and any other required documents
   5. Provide optional pre-work survey and educational material to applicant
4. Once site visits are complete, all approved work shall be assembled into a request for quotes (RFQ) and released. Tree removal, mitigation, and pruning shall be grouped into one RFQ and tree planting in another separate RFQ.
5. Once the tree work has been completed, another site visit will be scheduled to:
   1. Document (via photographs) the completed project
   2. Provide a post-work survey to applicant
   3. Provide a water bucket if a new tree has been planted
6. All information collected throughout the process will be assembled into a final report to evaluate the success of the program annually.

Program Coordination and Review Committee

The Urban Forester shall function as the program manager and main point of contact.

The Urban Forester, in collaboration with the Operations and Development Division Director for the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Department shall assemble and facilitate the Review Committee.

The Review Committee shall consist of:

• The program manager (Urban Forester)
• A member of the Bloomington Tree Commission. Information about current Tree Commission members, and Tree Commission meeting schedules and minutes.
• A staff member from the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department
• A staff member from the Planning and Transportation Department
• A staff member from the Economic & Sustainable Development Department