MESA – The City of Mesa has officially launched its 2025–26 tree planting season — a major step in expanding the city’s shade canopy and creating a cooler, more sustainable future.
Through its Trees Are Cool program, Mesa is teaming up with volunteers and community partners to plant hundreds of trees across neighborhoods, parks, and public spaces. The initiative, introduced in 2023, aims to add one million trees by 2050, increasing the city’s urban canopy to 15% coverage. That growth will help reduce heat, improve air quality, and enhance walkability across the community.
“This effort is about more than just trees — it’s about quality of life,” said Scott Bouchie, Director of Mesa’s Environmental and Sustainability Department. “By working together, we can make Mesa a more comfortable place to live, play, and spend time outdoors.”
The optimal season for planting native and desert-friendly trees runs from October through March, and residents are encouraged to join one of several upcoming events:
🌲 Oct. 25, 7:30 a.m. – Community Tree Planting Event
Reed Park, 1631 E. Broadway Road
Join residents, local businesses, and sustainability groups to help plant up to 100 trees and take part in a discussion about Mesa’s growing urban forest. Register online in English or Spanish. Partners include The Nature Conservancy, Trees Matter, the Arizona Sustainability Alliance, and the Garden Club of America.
🌵 Nov. 8, 10 a.m. – Neighborhood Shade Tree Workshop
Eagles Community Center, 828 E. Broadway Road
Residents in the Sherwood Park area can attend this session to learn about tree care and receive two free trees. Registration is required.
Residents and business owners can also make a difference year-round by:
- Planting and recording trees on Mesa’s Tree Map
- Encouraging property owners and managers to add more shade
- Donating a tree for a city park via parksrecinfo@mesaaz.gov
In addition to community efforts, city departments are actively growing Mesa’s urban forest. In fiscal year 2024–25 alone, more than 1,000 new trees were planted by Parks, Recreation, Transportation, and Transit teams — all contributing to the million-tree milestone.
For more information about planting guidelines, care tips, or to explore the Tree Benefits Dashboard, visit Mesa’s All About Trees webpage.
