Walk through Arlington Park neighborhood and notice lots of huge old live oak trees. Alta Vista neighborhood, not so much... We can change that! Do your part, if you can!
Several programs to enhance Tree Canopy in City
City Announcement May 16 2025: City residents invited to participate in two tree programs.
Arbor Day Foundation tree giveaway
The City of Sarasota has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to give away a total of 200 free 1-3feet tall trees that will be delivered directly to a resident’s home. The City’s Tree Mitigation Fund will provide 100 trees, with an additional 100 trees provided by the Arbor Day Foundation as a match.
Interested residents can register online to receive one of five available tree species: live oak, bald cypress, thuja green giant (arborvitae), chaste tree, crape myrtle.
Participants can select one tree per single-family home to be delivered, free of charge. Click Arbor Day Foundation for more information or to reserve your tree while supplies last.
Neighborhood Canopy Program
City residents interested in receiving a larger tree are invited to participate in the Neighborhood Canopy Program. This program provides professional installation of 2-inch caliper trees to interested residents. Participants will pay $100 for the tree, with the City covering the remainder of the cost up to $500 for the selected tree, funded by the City’s Tree Mitigation Fund.
Neighborhood Canopy Program participants can choose from 10 species: magnolia, shady lady, Southern red cedar, Japanese blueberry, winged elm, live oak, green buttonwood, royal poinciana, ligustrum, sycamore .
Interested residents can register for the Neighborhood Canopy Program by emailing [email protected]. Registration closes August 22, and planting is scheduled for the first two weeks of September.
Participation in both the Arbor Day Foundation tree giveaway and the Neighborhood Canopy Program is limited to City of Sarasota residents only.
In April, City tree giveaways received exceptional interest. During the City’s tree giveaway at The Bay Park, residents expressed so much interest that, after the first 100 trees were claimed in just 64 minutes, 50 additional trees were provided to be given away on the second day.
City tree programs are funded by the City’s Tree Mitigation Fund, which collects a portion of tree removal permit dollars to be used for urban canopy programs.
Sarasota’s tree programs help do more than just beautify neighborhoods. Growing the urban canopy can help fight the urban heat island effect, save energy, clean the air, filter storm runoff, and provide habitat for local wildlife.
Arbor Day Foundation tree giveaway
The City of Sarasota has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to give away a total of 200 free 1-3feet tall trees that will be delivered directly to a resident’s home. The City’s Tree Mitigation Fund will provide 100 trees, with an additional 100 trees provided by the Arbor Day Foundation as a match.
Interested residents can register online to receive one of five available tree species: live oak, bald cypress, thuja green giant (arborvitae), chaste tree, crape myrtle.
Participants can select one tree per single-family home to be delivered, free of charge. Click Arbor Day Foundation for more information or to reserve your tree while supplies last.
Neighborhood Canopy Program
City residents interested in receiving a larger tree are invited to participate in the Neighborhood Canopy Program. This program provides professional installation of 2-inch caliper trees to interested residents. Participants will pay $100 for the tree, with the City covering the remainder of the cost up to $500 for the selected tree, funded by the City’s Tree Mitigation Fund.
Neighborhood Canopy Program participants can choose from 10 species: magnolia, shady lady, Southern red cedar, Japanese blueberry, winged elm, live oak, green buttonwood, royal poinciana, ligustrum, sycamore .
Interested residents can register for the Neighborhood Canopy Program by emailing [email protected]. Registration closes August 22, and planting is scheduled for the first two weeks of September.
Participation in both the Arbor Day Foundation tree giveaway and the Neighborhood Canopy Program is limited to City of Sarasota residents only.
In April, City tree giveaways received exceptional interest. During the City’s tree giveaway at The Bay Park, residents expressed so much interest that, after the first 100 trees were claimed in just 64 minutes, 50 additional trees were provided to be given away on the second day.
City tree programs are funded by the City’s Tree Mitigation Fund, which collects a portion of tree removal permit dollars to be used for urban canopy programs.
Sarasota’s tree programs help do more than just beautify neighborhoods. Growing the urban canopy can help fight the urban heat island effect, save energy, clean the air, filter storm runoff, and provide habitat for local wildlife.
To view Sarasota's tree ordinance, see City Tree Protection website.
Loss of Big TREES: DON'T SAY "TREE" rule. Perhaps you are aware that developers or property owners often need only to get a letter from an arborist, sometimes a remote professional who has never even seen the trees in question, stating "those trees are ill & in decline" in order to meet conditions for removal of trees, especially grand trees. I believe this falls under a recent State law. Many recent local building project applications feature in-depth assessments by certified local arborists supporting their intent to remove existing trees.
A few years back, 3 grand oaks were removed on Sarasota High School property to make way for other structures. It is an ongoing problem throughout our neighborhood. In recent years a push by Arlington Park residents to "Save Pink Floyd," a huge old grand oak slated for destruction on a private parcel, was successful! Lesson learned: PUSH BACK !
Loss of Big TREES: DON'T SAY "TREE" rule. Perhaps you are aware that developers or property owners often need only to get a letter from an arborist, sometimes a remote professional who has never even seen the trees in question, stating "those trees are ill & in decline" in order to meet conditions for removal of trees, especially grand trees. I believe this falls under a recent State law. Many recent local building project applications feature in-depth assessments by certified local arborists supporting their intent to remove existing trees.
A few years back, 3 grand oaks were removed on Sarasota High School property to make way for other structures. It is an ongoing problem throughout our neighborhood. In recent years a push by Arlington Park residents to "Save Pink Floyd," a huge old grand oak slated for destruction on a private parcel, was successful! Lesson learned: PUSH BACK !
Tree Mitigation Request List
Another way to get a tree is to get on the tree mitigation request list. This is a program where, if a developer is obligated to plant new trees to make amends for removing existing trees, and there is not a good location on the development site, trees can be planted elsewhere in the City... perhaps in your front yard or right-of-way! See City Tree Protection web page for details and how to get yourself on the request list.
Another way to get a tree is to get on the tree mitigation request list. This is a program where, if a developer is obligated to plant new trees to make amends for removing existing trees, and there is not a good location on the development site, trees can be planted elsewhere in the City... perhaps in your front yard or right-of-way! See City Tree Protection web page for details and how to get yourself on the request list.
May 2022 News: Tree Inventory
Approximately 11,000 trees located on City property in parks, and right-of-ways including medians and hurricane evacuation routes are now being inventoried. Crews with ArborPro, the contractor for the City, are conducting the inventory including the species, condition, height, diameter and maintenance needs.
This is the first phase of a $55,000, 3-year grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
In the second and third years, an Urban Forestry Master Plan will be developed, which will include identifying dangerous trees that need to be removed, assessing canopy goals and planting over 100 native trees.
We value trees in our community and greatly appreciate their many benefits from cleaning stormwater, to purifying the air, increasing property values and even reducing stress. For questions about the tree inventory, please reach out to Donald Ullam, Senior Arborist: 941-263-6530.
Approximately 11,000 trees located on City property in parks, and right-of-ways including medians and hurricane evacuation routes are now being inventoried. Crews with ArborPro, the contractor for the City, are conducting the inventory including the species, condition, height, diameter and maintenance needs.
This is the first phase of a $55,000, 3-year grant from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
In the second and third years, an Urban Forestry Master Plan will be developed, which will include identifying dangerous trees that need to be removed, assessing canopy goals and planting over 100 native trees.
We value trees in our community and greatly appreciate their many benefits from cleaning stormwater, to purifying the air, increasing property values and even reducing stress. For questions about the tree inventory, please reach out to Donald Ullam, Senior Arborist: 941-263-6530.
Friday, April 25 & Saturday, April 26, 2025 9am-4pm, Free Tree Giveaway* at The Bay park.
So much of Alta Vista is, sadly, fairly bare of canopy trees. Here's a good opportunity to get yourself a young tree, start greening up our 'hood! The City of Sarasota‘s Tree Give-Away program, funded by the City’s Tree Mitigation Fund, from Tree Removal Permit fees, is giving out 100 trees: young live oak, green buttonwood, simpson's stoppers, gumbo limbos (my favorite!), bald cypress and some other species (*while supplies last, with proof of City residency).
So much of Alta Vista is, sadly, fairly bare of canopy trees. Here's a good opportunity to get yourself a young tree, start greening up our 'hood! The City of Sarasota‘s Tree Give-Away program, funded by the City’s Tree Mitigation Fund, from Tree Removal Permit fees, is giving out 100 trees: young live oak, green buttonwood, simpson's stoppers, gumbo limbos (my favorite!), bald cypress and some other species (*while supplies last, with proof of City residency).
