The Brookings Urban Forest Initiative is back again to help the health and sustainability of trees in the community. The 2025 program will kick off on April 22 and provides residents the chance to plant trees at little or no cost. 

“One of the great features about Brookings is its trees,” Joshua Bauman, assistant director of the City’s Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department, said. “Brookings has been recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for 43 years. Through the Urban Forest Initiative, we’re helping to preserve our community’s urban forest for generations to come.”

Brookings is investing $25,000 in its Urban Forest Initiative this year. The program is open to city residents and is a reimbursement process. Participation is limited to one tree per property per year. 

“Since the program’s start in 2021, 626 trees have been planted throughout the community,” Bauman said.

Eligible participants will need to first buy a tree on the city’s approved list. Participants will then need to take the receipt for their purchase to the Parks, Recreation and Forestry office at 520 Third St., Suite 130, during regular business hours. A city check will be issued for reimbursement up to $100. An additional $25 will be given for trees planted in the front yard. New this year will be a $50 reimbursement for treatment of an ash or elm tree. Tree purchase receipts or treatment receipts must be dated April 22 or later to be eligible for reimbursement. 

A list of approved trees and other program details are available at www.cityofbrookings-sd.gov/UrbanForest. 

Trees planted in boulevard areas require city approval prior to planting and reimbursement. Before planting any tree, residents should call South Dakota One Call at 811 for locating and marking of all underground utility lines.

The Parks, Recreation and Forestry Office is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 7 a.m. to noon Friday.