Minneapolis & the Urban Tree Canopy
The Minneapolis City Council and the Mayor, along with a number of City departments and divisions, and affiliated commissions actively work with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to maintain a healthy urban forest with our city limits. City departments actively involved in the process include Public Works, Planning Division of CPED, Regulatory Services, Environmental Management, Neighborhood Revitalization Program and the Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee.
- The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board plants more than 2,500 trees annually along city boulevards and parks
- Since 2006, the City of Minneapolis has funded the City Trees program, a low-cost way for folks to help build the city’s tree canopy. In the past five years, the City Trees program planted 6,000 trees in Minneapolis.
- Forestry Division of the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is responsible for planting, pruning and removing of trees along the citys streets, boulevards and parks. More information is available at the Forestry Division.
- The City’s Zoning Code Chapter 530.160 requires tree plantings and other landscaping when there is major development or redevelopment.
- The Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board and the Minneapolis City Council has a City of Minneapolis Urban Forest Policy in place. This Urban Forest Policy is a collaborative effort of MPRB staff, City staff and other professionals involved with urban forest management in Minneapolis. The policy considers the urban forest an important city resource and promotes the benefits of preserving, maintaining and planting trees in our society and environment.
The University of Minnesota completed a study in April, 2011 for the City of Minneapolis to quantify the urban tree canopy. Information from this study will be used as the basis for many ongoing efforts related to trees. See more details about the study, as well as a link to an online mapping tool displaying the results.
The City of Minneapolis tracks the urban tree canopy as part of its sustainability indicators program, learn more.
Last updated Apr. 5, 2012