Bloomington Continues Long-Term Investment in the Urban Forest

Urban Forestry Staff Making Measurable Progress in Planting, Pruning, Hazard Reduction

Bloomington's urban forestry team has planted more than 200 trees, pruned hundreds more to improve public safety and storm resilience, removed invasive Callery pears, and secured  nearly $95,000 in grant funding this year to help protect and expand the city's urban forest.

The City has inventoried approximately 24,000 trees in parks, rights-of-way, medians, and other city-owned and managed property. These trees are maintained by one urban forester, and two full-time and two seasonal urban forestry staff members with support from the Public Works Department's tree removal crew.

The following urban forestry work was completed between January and June 2026:

• Planted 201 trees
• Pruned 265 trees
• Removed 98 dead, dying and/or hazardous trees
• Inspected 3,692 trees
• Assessed 530 ash trees​

Tree removals are evaluated individually, with public safety and long-term forest health guiding each decision. Forty-nine trees scheduled for removal by the end of 2026 were identified through the City's tree inventory as dead, dying, structurally unsound, or severely damaged by pests, disease, or storms. Other removals are prompted by reports from the public, or target invasive invasive species such as Tree of Heaven and Callery pear, as well as ash trees severely affected by emerald ash borer.

Trees planted so far this year represent 27 species, all native species or native cultivars. Urban Forester Haskell Smith said staff consider growing conditions, available space, mature tree size and form, and ecological benefits when selecting trees. This approach is commonly described as planting the right tree in the right place.

"For example, catalpa doesn't make a great street tree," Smith said. "But near the Rogers Family Park prairie, it will eventually be a good source of food for bees and hummingbirds, and a favored nesting site for woodpeckers and owls. American hornbeam and American yellowwood have been great street trees because of their growth pattern, general toughness, and adaptability to an urban environment."

Since 2022, urban forestry crews have removed an average of 76 invasive Callery pear trees every year as part of a long-term plan to eliminate the species from the urban forest. Callery pears spread aggressively into natural areas and are prone to splitting and storm damage. They now make up approximately 3.8% of Bloomington's public tree inventory. Removals are prioritized with the largest trees, which are particularly vulnerable to structural failure; only about five Callery pear trees larger than 30 inches in diameter remain.

Federal and state grants are expanding the City's capacity for tree care. A $100,000 Catalyst Fund grant awarded in 2023 and distributed over four years doubled the City’s budget for proactive storm resilience pruning. Structural pruning addresses weak, poorly attached or overextended limbs before they fail, reducing risks to pedestrians, vehicles, homes, utilities, and emergency access routes. Priority areas have included North and South College Avenue, North and South Walnut Street, North Woodlawn Street, Henderson Street, and West Kirkwood Avenue. 

A  $50,000 State Urban Forest Resilience (SUFR) Grant awarded in February by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) allowed the urban forestry team to systematically assess the health of about 530 ash trees on public property. The assessment helps identify trees that can continue to be protected from emerald ash borer and directs treatment funding to trees with the best prospects for long-term survival. 

Of the ash trees inspected through the grant, 308 were healthy enough to treat, while an additional 140 trees already receiving ongoing treatment were not included in the assessment. Urban forestry staff are working toward a sustainable population of approximately 250 ash trees that the City can continue to treat and protect over the long term. 

Smith said, "The SUFR grant has given us the ability to take a hard look at our public ash trees: Their health, persistent problems, and their future," Smith said. "The grant helps us remove trees in poor health and replace them at a 2:1 ratio with native species, while preserving ash trees that are important parts of our parks landscape, including several large specimen ash trees around Bryan Park."

Bloomington’s investment in a healthy urban tree canopy keeps neighborhoods cooler, improves air and water quality, increases property values, and creates more welcoming public spaces. Proactive tree care also reduces the risk of damage from severe storms by addressing weak trees and limbs before they fall, supporting a safer and more resilient community.

See a live inventory of public trees, or visit the urban forestry website to learn more about the Tree Assistance Program, purchasing a memorial or honorary tree, or Bloomington's urban forest. Use the City's uReport system to report a hazardous tree on public property.