Sacramento residents have new opportunities to help shape the City’s urban forest, from joining a working group focused on implementing the Urban Forest Plan to providing feedback on parking lot greening and volunteering at community tree plantings.
The City of Sacramento is advancing several efforts to expand tree shade, improve climate resilience and involve residents in caring for the city’s urban forest.
“Sacramento’s urban forest plays an important role in keeping our neighborhoods cooler, providing shade, and making our public spaces more inviting,” said Ariana Hernandez, Sustainability Analyst with the City’s Climate Action & Sustainability team. “Through these efforts, we’re creating more opportunities for residents to help shape the future of our urban forest while finding practical ways to expand tree canopy in areas that need it most.”
Urban Forest Plan working group to launch
The City is preparing to launch its Urban Forest Plan Implementation Working Group, which will bring community members and City staff together to advance implementation of the Sacramento Urban Forest Plan.
An informational session is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 9, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the Hart Senior Center (915 27th St.).
The session will provide an overview of the working group’s purpose, structure and application process.
Applications to become a working group member will open Nov. 9 and remain available through Dec. 31, 2026.
Residents interested in participating can learn more on the City’s website and subscribe for updates to receive information about the application process.
City seeks feedback on parking lot greening
The City is also developing a Parking Lot Greening Guidebook to help property owners, businesses, designers, and community organizations incorporate more trees and shade into existing parking lots.
The guidebook will provide practical information about design options, costs, benefits, maintenance, permitting, and potential incentives to make parking lot greening projects easier to plan and implement.
Residents and community partners are encouraged to provide feedback through a survey open through Nov. 25.
As part of the effort, the City is piloting parking lot greening upgrades at Hagginwood Community Center. The project will remove portions of asphalt, install irrigation and add up to eight trees to provide additional shade. No parking spaces will be eliminated.
The Department of Public Works is beginning project design, with construction anticipated to start in summer 2027 and be completed by fall 2027. A portion of the parking lot will be temporarily closed during construction.
Lessons learned from the project will help inform the guidebook and support similar improvements at other locations.
More information about the project and survey is available on the City’s Equitable and Resilient Urban Forest Project webpage.
Volunteer tree plantings underway
With tree planting season underway, residents can also help expand Sacramento’s urban forest through volunteer opportunities coordinated by the City’s Department of Youth, Parks & Community Enrichment.
One upcoming opportunity is the Love 916 campaign kickoff on Saturday, Nov. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon, bringing volunteers together to plant annuals, spread mulch and remove litter at the downtown park at 910 I St.
The campaign will include additional volunteer events throughout Sacramento to improve parks, neighborhoods and public spaces.
Residents can find upcoming tree planting events and register to volunteer through the City’s Better Impact volunteer portal.
Together, these efforts support the City’s ongoing work to maintain and expand Sacramento’s urban forest, increase shade, and create more opportunities for community involvement.
