Parks and Recreation Tree Giveaway Set for September 27

Parks and Recreation Tree Giveaway Set for September 27

Published on September 17, 2025

The Parks and Recreation Department today invited community members to a free tree distribution event Saturday, September 27. The event will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Pioneers Park Nature Center, 3201 S. Coddington St. The event is part of the day-long Wild Fall Festival from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., that features free nature activities, workshops, animal meet-and-greets, and more.

Tree distribution details are as follows:

• The 400 trees will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. The trees will be in one-gallon containers and include planting and care instructions. Trees are being made available to be planted on private property.
• Participants must first visit the Parks and Recreation booth near the Cunningham School building to obtain a ticket to reserve a tree. Trees can then be picked up any time before the end of the event.
• The species available are locally grown and well suited for the eastern Nebraska climate. They include American Yellowwood, Autumn Brilliance Serviceberry, Bur Oak, Cottonwood, Eastern Redbud, Ironwood, Northern Catalpa, Northern Pecan, Osage Orange, Paw Paw, Prairie Gold Quaking Aspen, and Swamp White Oak.

The tree giveaway is an ongoing effort to replace trees that have been damaged or destroyed by storms and by the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). The goal of event is to distribute trees to homeowners in low- and moderate-income neighborhoods who have experienced tree loss. A diverse mix of trees will be planted to replace the public ash trees. Residents may apply to participate in the Adopt an Ash tree program, which allows residents to voluntarily pay for chemical injection treatment of ash street trees near their homes to extend the lives of the trees.

EAB was first discovered in Lincoln in August 2018. Lincoln's EAB Response and Recovery Plan includes phased removal of public ash trees along streets and in parks. For more information on the EAB response plan, At-Risk Tree Removal grant, the Adopt an Ash tree program, and the Community Forestry Division, visit trees.lincoln.ne.gov.

The event is sponsored by the Lincoln Parks Foundation and Lincoln Parks and Recreation.

More information is available for the following events and programs:

• Wild Fall Festival - lincoln.ne.gov/wildfallfestival.
• Free tree distribution - lincoln.ne.gov/treegiveaway.
• Pioneers Park Nature Center - lincoln.ne.gov/naturecenter.
• Lincoln Parks and Recreation programs - parks.lincoln.ne.gov.