News

So you just picked up a free tree! Here are some resources to help you plant and care for your new tree.

TRANSPORTATION GUIDE

PLANTING GUIDE

CARE GUIDE

The Cleveland Tree Coalition is seeking support from a consultant team to create a governance framework and models for sustainable funding for the Coalition. This is an important step towards equitable growth of the City of Cleveland’s urban tree canopy.

Nearly 500 new trees will be planted in the City of Cleveland over the next 12 months. 15 organizations applied for funds through the Fall 2024 Cleveland Tree Coalition Grant Program, requesting over $800,000.00 to plant and maintain over 1,000 trees. After careful consideration by a Coalition grant review committee, $660,928.86 funds were distributed to 13 agencies.  

The following partners are funded to conduct neighborhood plantings:

• Downtown Cleveland Inc.
  • Planting 36 trees in Public Square, Erie St. Cemetery, and along Euclid Ave., Prospect Ave., and East 9th St.
• Evangelical Environmental Network
  • Maintaining 137 trees at Lake Pool Park, and along Lake Ave., W 85th, W89th, and W 65 streets
• Friends of Jefferson Neighborhood
  • Planting 20 trees along W 129th St.
• Jefferson-Puritas West Park CDC
  • Planting 40 trees in a vacant lot off Emery Ave.
• MetroWest Community Development
  • Planting 50 trees on W 65th from Clark Ave. to Storer Ave.
• Midtown Cleveland Inc.
  • Planting 100 trees on Carnegie Ave. from E 55th to E 79th St.
• Monroe Street Cemetery Foundation
  • Planting 12 trees in Monroe Street Cemetery
• Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
  • Planting 56 trees in a greenspace on E 71 St.
• Northwest Neighborhoods CDC
  • Planting 35 trees on Colgate Ct. from W 80 to W 73 St.
• Old Brooklyn Development Corp.
  • 50 residential tree plantings
• Slavic Village Development
  • 50 residential tree plantings
• University Circle Inc.
  • Planting 15 trees at Wade Oval
• Western Reserve Land Conservancy
  • Planting 75 trees at Wilson Elementary School

The Cleveland Tree Coalition is seeking support from a consultant team to create a communications campaign and neighborhood engagement plan. This is an important step towards equitable growth of the City of Cleveland’s urban tree canopy.

The Cleveland Tree Coalition (CTC) is excited to announce the appointment of Sara Tillie as Director. The Coalition, a partnership of numerous organizations, businesses, and branches of local government, is dedicated to creating a healthy, vibrant, sustainable, and equitable urban forest by collaboratively implementing the Cleveland Tree Plan.

In her new role, Sara Tillie will serve as the outward-facing leader of the CTC. She will work to raise awareness about the critical need for a robust tree canopy in Cleveland and secure funding from both public and private sources to advance the goals of the CTC and the Cleveland Tree Plan. The CTC is a powerful platform capable of influencing public policy and sentiment at the local, state, and federal levels. Sara will be responsible for developing, enhancing, and deploying this platform of relationships and capacity. She will officially begin her role as Director on July 22, 2024.

Sara Tillie brings a wealth of experience to the CTC. Most recently, she served as a policy research analyst for the City of Cleveland Department of Public Health, where she supported operations in the Division of Health Equity and Social Justice and identified and coordinated policies and programs addressing the social determinants of health equity. Prior to that, Sara held several positions with Lorain County Public Health, where she coordinated policy, systems, and environmental changes across numerous areas, including chronic disease, maternal and child health, injury prevention, and health equity.

“We are excited to welcome Sara to the Cleveland Tree Coalition leadership role and to work closely with her on achieving mutual goals connecting community forestry, climate resiliency and health equity.” – Sarah O’Keeffe, Director of Sustainability & Climate Justice (City of Cleveland, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability)

Rich Cochran, President and CEO of Western Reserve Land Conservancy and Chair of the Cleveland Tree Coalition, said: “I am thrilled to welcome Sara Tillie as our new director. With extensive experience in public health, Sara brings a deep understanding of the connection between human health and environmental conditions. Her expertise and passion will be instrumental in furthering our mission to create a cleaner and greener Cleveland for all.”

An active participant in community organizations, Sara has served as Board President and Trustee for OHIO Master’s Swimming, on the Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee for NOACA, and on the Citizen’s Advisory Council for the City of Lakewood. Sara holds a master’s degree in urban planning and design from Cleveland State University, a master’s degree in public health from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), and a bachelor’s degree in medical anthropology and Asian studies, also from CWRU.

The Cleveland Tree Coalition is excited to share the 2023 CTC grant cycle application. This grant is open to local non-profit and public organizations for tree planting and establishment within the City of Cleveland. Organizations are eligible to apply for up to $75,000 for planting, maintenance, and community free tree giveaways.

This grant was made possible through funding provided by NOPEC’s Energized Community Grant program, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and the CTC’s federal earmark from Senator Sherrod Brown. NOPEC, ODNR, and Senator Brown are proud to support the CTC’s critical mission of reforesting the “Forest City” through ongoing planting and maintenance initiatives.

The application and related materials are attached at the bottom of this post. Once completed, please email the application to Director Samira Malone at smalone@wrlandconservancy.org for consideration. Applications must be submitted no later than 5:00 PM on August 25th.

Through August, the CTC will offer 30-minute technical assistance sessions to groups interested in applying. These will be held on August 2nd, 8th, 16th, and 23rd between 1p-4p. To schedule a session, please email Thomas Vodrey at tvodrey@wrlandconservancy.org and cc Samira Malone at smalone@wrlandconservancy.org.

We invite you to share this opportunity with your networks.

In celebration of Arbor Day, the Cleveland Tree Coalition – a collaborative group of public, private and community stakeholders that have partnered with the City of Cleveland to rebuild our urban forest – will host events all week long throughout the city. Arbor Week events include:

Cleveland Metroparks
Tree-rific Hike
Friday, April 28
3 – 4:30 PM
Brookside Reservation
Link: https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/calendar/2023/wsc/april/br/tree-rific-hike

Arbor Day Kids Tree ID
Friday, April 28
4:30 – 5:30 PM
Rocky River Reservation
Link: https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/calendar/2023/rrnc/april/arbor-day-kid%E2%80%99s-tree-i-d

Tree ID Hike
Saturday, April 29
1 – 2 PM
Rocky River Nature Center
Link: https://www.clevelandmetroparks.com/parks/calendar/2023/rrnc/april/tree-i-d-hike

Western Reserve Land Conservancy

Arbor Day Ubuntu Street Tree Planting
Friday, April 28
9 AM – 12 PM
E 130th Street & Shaker Blvd., Cleveland, OH 44120
Link: https://wrlandconservancy.org/event/arborday23/

Trees4CLE Arbor Day Tree Adoption
Saturday, April 29
9 AM – 1 PM
2921 East 82nd St, Cleveland, OH 44104
Link: https://wrlandconservancy.org/trees4cle/

MidTown

Arbor Day Celebration
Saturday, April 29
11 AM – 3 PM
1945 East 71st Street Cleveland, OH 44103
Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/celebrate-arbor-day-tickets-543020748677

Holden Forests & Gardens and the City of Cleveland

Jesse Owens Olympic Oak Planting
Friday, April 28
12 – 1 PM
League Park, 6601 Lexington Ave. Cleveland, OH 44103

Old Brooklyn CDC

Leow Park Tree Planting
Saturday, April 29
10 AM
4741 W.32 Street, Cleveland, OH 44109
Link: www.oldbrooklyn.com/planting