City Celebrates Arbor Day with Native Tree Giveaway
Published on April 14, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kathleen Joy, Director of Communications
City of West Palm Beach – Mayor’s Office
kjoy@wpb.org
(561) 822-1411 (TTY: 800-955-8771)
City of West Palm Beach Celebrates Arbor Day with Native Tree Giveaway and Continued Investment in Urban Canopy
WEST PALM BEACH, FL (April 15, 2026) – The City of West Palm Beach is celebrating Arbor Day, observed on April 24, with a series of initiatives aimed at expanding and protecting the community’s urban tree canopy, advancing its commitment to building a more sustainable, resilient, and livable city.
Arbor Day, April 24, 2026, Proclamation from Mayor Keith A. James. The ceremony included, from left, Elaine Christian, Sustainability Supervisor, Victor Carosi, Director of Public Utilities, Mayor Keith A. James, Heidi King, Manager of Resiliency and Climate Change, and Caroline Richardson, Sustainability Program Coordinator.
In recognition of Arbor Day, Mayor Keith A. James issued a formal proclamation(PDF, 100KB) at the April 13 City Commission meeting. The celebration will continue on Thursday, April 23, when the City’s Office of Sustainability hosts a free, drive-thru native tree giveaway for residents. Additional details and registration information are available online here.
The annual giveaway is part of the City’s “10,000 Trees in 10 Years” initiative, an ongoing effort to grow West Palm Beach’s urban forest while encouraging residents and businesses to play an active role in greening their neighborhoods.
Trees provide wide-ranging benefits to the community, from improving air quality and reducing stormwater runoff, to lowering neighborhood temperatures, enhancing wildlife habitat, increasing property values, and supporting overall well-being.
West Palm Beach continues to demonstrate national leadership in urban forestry, proudly maintaining its designation as a Tree City USA community for the 34th consecutive year.
As part of its continued focus on long-term planning, the City Commission also accepted a new report on April 13 titled “An Analysis of Tree Canopy Cover and Strategies to Retain and Increase Trees,” prepared by the Green Infrastructure Center, Inc. in partnership with the City.
The report evaluates current tree canopy coverage and outlines strategies to preserve and expand it. It also provides a clear roadmap for future action, including strategies to increase the City’s urban canopy by 1% in the coming years, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining existing trees as part of a healthy, long-term canopy.
The full report and accompanying Story Map are available here.
While progress is underway, Arbor Day serves as a reminder that building a stronger urban canopy takes ongoing investment and community action. Every tree planted today is an investment in a greener, healthier West Palm Beach for years to come. Residents are encouraged to take part, pick up a native tree on April 23, and continue planting and caring for trees in their own neighborhoods.
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About The City of West Palm Beach
The City of West Palm Beach is a vibrant and dynamic city on Florida's Atlantic coast. With a rich history, thriving arts and cultural scene, and a commitment to sustainability, the City of West Palm Beach is a great place to live, work, and play. As one of the three largest cities making up the South Florida region and the central city of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach is a vibrant, growing waterfront city that seamlessly blends the business advantages available in the area with a more refined and relaxed environment for living and working, making it an exceptional destination for both residents and professionals alike. To learn more about the City of West Palm Beach, visit our official website or follow us on our social media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and LinkedIn.
To contact the City of West Palm Beach, please dial (561) 822-1200 (TTY800 955-8771).