NYC PARKS LAUNCHES SECOND YEAR OF VOLUNTEER TREE CENSUS EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE CITY

Nation's largest volunteer tree survey returns for a second year, building on the record setting turnout of last summer

NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura joined Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Community Board 11 Parks Chair Rosa Diaz and members of the Harlem community to launch the second volunteer phase of Trees Count 2025, the largest volunteer-driven urban forest survey in the nation and the city's fourth decennial tree census. After more than 2,500 New Yorkers turned out in the first year of the effort, Parks is now calling on residents across all five boroughs to help finish what they started - counting, measuring, and documenting every public tree in the city.

At the relaunch at Marcus Garvey Park in Harlem, staff and volunteers got straight to work surveying the park's trees, including one of the city's own officially designated Great Trees, an Osage Orange nested in the park's southwest corner. The tree, known for its striking and twisting trunk, has its own notable history: its bark served as the basis for a series of cast clay tiles created by artist Susan Stair for the public art installation, "Refashion Our Future". On Wednesday, it became part of the official census record.

"The Tree Census is an opportunity that comes around once a decade, and we want every New Yorker to be a part of it," said NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura. "Our trees are doing remarkable work for this city every single day - cleaning the air, absorbing stormwater, cooling our streets with shade, and making our neighborhoods more livable for everyone. We are building on the tremendous efforts of volunteers citywide from last year and now it's time to carry that work across the finish line, one tree at a time."

"Our trees are essential to what makes Manhattan livable, healthy, and beautiful, and we can't take them for granted," said Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal. It was wonderful to join Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura and CB 11 to kick off the second year of NYC's Volunteer Tree Census. I encourage Manhattanites to get involved, help count our urban forest, and play a role in protecting and growing this vital resource for generations to come."

"Tree Count is more than a data collection effort-it is an opportunity to engage our communities in safer and healthier future for all New Yorkers," said CB11 Chair of Environment, Open Space and Parks Committee Rosa Diaz. By working together with NYC Parks, volunteers, and community advocates, we are increasing environmental awareness, promoting civic engagement, and helping ensure that our NYC Parks continues to thrive for generations to come. Every tree matters, and every resident can play a role in protecting and strengthening our shared environmental mission."

The volunteer process is designed to be accessible to anyone. At each event, participants receive a brief training on how to identify tree species, take trunk measurements, and evaluate overall tree health using a mobile app that syncs data in real time. A typical session runs about one to two hours, and those who complete their first event are encouraged to keep going on their own in neighborhood parks and green spaces.

With record volunteer turnout in 2025, NYC Parks has an incredible head start on counting all of the trees in our Parks with over 607 Parks surveyed and over 67,000 individual trees counted. Volunteers can join events taking place throughout the spring and summer in all five boroughs to complete the count. The first week of events will see counts taking place at Van Cortlandt Park, Morningside Park, Prospect Park, Astoria Park, Corporal Thompson Park and more.

The census has been a cornerstone of the city's approach to urban forestry since 1995. The 2005 count put a concrete number on the ecological value trees provide and helped lay the groundwork for MillionTreesNYC. A decade later, more than 2,200 volunteers turned out for what became the largest volunteer mobilization in Parks history, cataloging 666,134 street trees and establishing that they generate over $151 million in benefits for the city each year. When Trees Count 2025 wraps, it will complete four decades of continuous data, giving planners and foresters an unmatched foundation for making smarter and more equitable decisions about where trees are planted and how they are cared for. Advanced street level scanning technology called LiDAR is planned for a later phase of the initiative to count and survey street trees.

To sign up for an upcoming event, find local volunteer opportunities, and track how the count is progressing across the city, visit the Trees Count 2025 Hub site.