New 'Louisville Tree Plan' aimed at reversing decline of city's tree canopy in more neighborhoods

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- City officials unveiled a new plan Thursday aimed at reversing a decline in Louisville's tree canopy.

The Louisville Tree Plan is a "comprehensive urban forest master plan" in partnership with Metro Government and TreesLouisville.

In 2015, researchers found that the city's tree canopy was rapidly declining. The city has taken major steps to increase planting since then, and an updated assessment in 2022 had "encouraging findings." But individual neighborhoods have seen a continued decline.

The new tree plan is aimed at reversing that trend.

"All of the work that we are going to do will set tangible, achievable goals that will really mean something to this community, and it will spur action as the plan gets implemented," said Cindi Sullivan, executive director of TreesLouisville.

The announcement comes roughly two weeks ahead of the city's annual Arbor Day celebration, TreeFest. It's happening April 13 at Petersburg Park. It features live music, food, drinks and tree planting. More information can be found by clicking here.

TreesLouisville was founded in 2015 as a way to address the urban heat island effect.

Last September, a $12 million grant was announced to improve the city's tree canopy over the next five years. The grant money allows the city to develop a public tree inventory and management plan, tree planting and maintenance in underserved communities in particular.

The funding was awarded to the Equitable Forest Initiative, which is led by the Division of Urban Forestry. The initiative focuses on equitable urban canopy for underserved communities to limit future effects of the urban heat island.

To read more about the Louisville Tree Plan, click here.

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