Community Forestry & Horticulture

The Forestry Section of the Lincoln Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for maintaining Lincoln’s “green infrastructure” – which currently is over 123,000 trees on City property. Tree planting, trimming and maintenance of street trees along the public right-of-way and trees in City parks, golf courses, and along bike trails is done on both a request and scheduled basis.

Lincoln has been a designated Tree City USA for 31 years and has received the Tree City USA Growth Award for 17 consecutive years. This has enabled Lincoln to receive special designation as a Sterling Tree City USA. Only Lincoln and 34 other communities nationwide have been a Tree City USA for 25 or more years and received the Tree City USA Growth Award for 10 or more years.

Lincoln also is one of only 66 communities to have the unique distinction of earning both the Tree City USA Award and being home to a Tree Line USA utility - Lincoln Electric System.

The National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters give these awards annually to communities that meet required standards for a municipal tree care program.

The following information on the Forestry Section web site is provided to help assist those who may have questions or concerns regarding trees located on public property in the City of Lincoln.

Read the article "Nebraska's Capitol City is Green . . . And Sterling"