2025-2026 Tree Planting Project

A few years ago, in some of the publications we read, a couple of us on the Mission and Justice Committee came across the concept of tree equity. This refers to the fact that in most cities, there is better tree cover in the more affluent areas. Better tree cover provides more shade, lower temperatures and the opportunity to enjoy more rewarding time outdoors. We began to explore ways to address this issue locally. In our research, we learned about the City of Lancaster’s Tree Planting Program.

Through the tree planting program, a property owner can apply to the city to have a tree planted in front of their property. The property owner pays for the tree and agrees to specific maintenance responsibilities for two years. The city will prepare a tree well in the sidewalk, obtain and plant the tree. We thought there might be people in Lancaster who would like a tree but could not afford the purchase price, which amounts to a few hundred dollars. We thought we might be able to undertake a project to raise funds and purchase one or two trees. After contacting the city, we were referred to the urban forester. There was no record of anyone wanting a tree who could not afford one, so we began to explore other ideas for addressing tree equity in Lancaster.

Along the way, we learned there are drawbacks to planting trees in the cut-out spaces in the sidewalk known as tree wells. We learned that trees like to communicate with each other through their root systems. Tree wells are isolating, so the trees have a harder time surviving. Eventually, with the urban forester, we began exploring the idea of planting perhaps several trees in a park. We were familiar with the larger, well-known parks in the more affluent parts of town, but we did not know of the numerous smaller parks in less wealthy parts of the city. Many of these have good facilities. A number of them are scheduled for improvements by the city in the next year or two. Finally, we learned about Crystal Park.

Crystal Park is just south of West King Street near Old Dorwart Street, about half a block outside the designated Southwest (SoWe) Lancaster Redevelopment area.  While it is a nice area, there are underutilized outdoor spaces because of a lack of shade. This is just the kind of location we had been looking for!

Another thing we learned is that the City of Lancaster has a Shade Tree Commission. Part of their responsibility is to review all property development plans submitted for approval to see what impact the project would have on the city’s tree cover. And, they also have some grant funds. We proposed to the Shade Tree Commission to provide $1250.00 for the tree planting program and requested matching funds in an equal amount. This year, the city can get trees appropriate for the planting program for $250.00 each. Our offer, along with the matching funds, would enable the city to plant ten trees in Crystal Park. The Shade Tree Commission will plant the trees and tend to them as needed.

We are happy to report that our proposal has been approved, and with reasonably cooperative weather, the trees are expected to be planted in the spring of 2026.

--Rex Grubb