Stephanie Tuck, Public Relations and Media Lead
The Nature Conservancy, New York
Email: Stephanie.Tuck@tnc.org
Fifth Annual ‘City of Forest Day’ Encourages New Yorkers to Learn About and Care for the 7+ Million Trees in New York City
Nearly 150 events across all five boroughs connect New Yorkers with the benefits of the urban forest
New York, NY, September 21, 2026 ̶ On October 3, Forest for All NYC, in partnership with Parks and Open Space Partners NYC and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, will host the fifth annual City of Forest Day, a citywide day of service that connects New Yorkers with the trees that make neighborhoods healthier, cooler, and more resilient. Nearly 150 events across all five boroughs will engage thousands of New Yorkers in hands-on tree care, educational programming, guided walks, and family-friendly activities.
This year, City of Forest Day features tree care workshops, art-making activities for all ages, flower bulb planting, mindfulness in nature events, guided walks exploring biodiversity and food forests, volunteer stewardship projects, and educational programming.
Activities will take place in many of New York’s largest parks (including Freshkills Park and Clay Pit Ponds State Park Preserve in Staten Island, Central Park and Inwood Hill Park in Manhattan, Prospect Park and Marine Park in Brooklyn, Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, and Forest Park in Queens) as well as in dozens of smaller parks, community gardens, and neighborhoods with street trees in need of some TLC.
This annual day is a moment to appreciate the critical role trees play in supporting public health, improving air quality, mitigating climate impacts, and enhancing neighborhood well-being. City of Forest Day comes just months after the release of New York City’s first-ever Urban Forest Plan, a comprehensive roadmap for managing the city’s more than 7 million trees across all land types. Developed with leadership from the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, and informed by subject matter expertise of Forest for All NYC members along with many other partners, the plan provides guidance for advancing the long-term health of the city’s trees and the equitable growth of tree canopy across New York City.
“The Mamdani administration is proud to partner with the Forest for All NYC coalition to celebrate City of Forest Day. We invite New Yorkers to get outside and enjoy our urban forest. Trees keep our city cool, absorb heavy rains, and provide New Yorkers with joy and beauty,” said New York City Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung. “Through our first-ever Urban Forest Plan, we are making strides towards expanding tree canopy, cultivating stewardship, and ensuring that every New Yorker – no matter their ZIP code ̶ has access to trees’ critical benefits.”
“New Yorkers see firsthand how much our trees matter to daily life in this city, whether it’s the shade on a summer walk through the park or the quiet beauty of a block lined with green,” said NYC Department of Parks and Recreation Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. “City of Forest Day gives all of us a chance to show our appreciation in a hands-on way, as neighbors and families get outside together, volunteer, and play a role in caring for the city we call home. NYC Parks is proud to join The Nature Conservancy in inviting New Yorkers of all ages to join us across the five boroughs and help protect the urban forest we all share.”
“Trees are essential to making New York City healthier, cooler, more resilient and more livable,” said Bill Ulfelder, Executive Director of The Nature Conservancy in New York. “Whether they line our streets, shade our parks or help absorb stormwater, trees improve daily life for millions of New Yorkers. City of Forest Day is a chance for people across all five boroughs to connect with the urban forest, care for the trees that care for us, and help build a greener future for New York City. We are proud to convene Forest for All NYC, which now brings together more than 220 organizations working together toward the shared goal of achieving 30% tree canopy cover citywide.”
“City of Forest Day is New York City’s largest celebration of trees, and Trees New York is honored to serve as project manager for this event!” said Nelson Villarrubia, Executive Director of Trees New York. “City of Forest Day brings thousands of New Yorkers together to spend the day under the city’s tree canopy. We live in an urban forest, and trees are vital to our city’s health, resilience, and vitality. City of Forest Day is the perfect moment to shine a spotlight on the power of trees, and we invite all New Yorkers to roll up their sleeves, have fun, and explore our city’s urban forest.”
“New York City’s first Urban Forest Plan recognizes the crucial role communities play in helping reach the goal of 30 percent tree canopy cover by 2040. The fifth annual City of Forest Day offers a perfect opportunity for New Yorkers across the five boroughs to connect with our city’s trees. City Parks Foundation, Partnerships for Parks, and Parks and Open Space Partners collectively support hundreds of grassroots organizations and thousands of volunteers who care for local green spaces year-round. We are thrilled to support this annual day of tree stewardship and celebration, and we applaud the thousands of community members who take steps to protect our trees on City of Forest Day and every day,” said Heather Lubov, Executive Director of City Parks Foundation.
“The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation would like to thank Forest for All NYC for their continued partnership,” DEC Regional Director Antonia Pereira said. “City of Forest Day has become a staple event for our team as efforts that support our urban forest will always be part of the important work we do as stewards of our shared environment. This year DEC foresters will be planting over 100 native trees and shrubs at St. Francis Woodlands in Staten Island and our environmental educators will be partnering with Friends of Inwood Hill to provide a day of education and stewardship at Inwood Hill Park. We hope that you will be able to join our foresters or environmental educators at one or both events planned for City of Forest Day.”
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Forest for All NYC is a diverse coalition of over 220 organizations across the business, nonprofit, conservation and environmental justice sectors committed to protecting, maintaining and growing the New York City urban forest by implementing the NYC Urban Forest Agenda. The Nature Conservancy is the convener and a leading Forest for All NYC member. The coalition seeks to increase the New York City tree canopy cover to at least 30% coverage by 2040 (up from 23.4% in 2021) in an equitable manner across the city, and this can only be achieved through the engagement of all New Yorkers to help care for the urban forest. City of Forest Day honors the coalition’s commitment to establishing a citywide educational and tree stewardship event.
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