Important Update: Potential of Limited Availability for Trees in 2025

Please read the update below to guide your planning for tree planting starting on July 1, 2025 (fiscal year 2026). This information is especially important for any applicants seeking to plant trees in 2025 to meet the requirements of the Stormwater Utility Credit Program.

Updates:

• At this time, there is no committed funding enabling EcoAction Arlington to provide tree planting in fiscal year 2026 (FY26: July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026). In order for the program to continue, we will need to secure new funding. We are also anticipating the tree planting program may go through some changes in FY26. 
• Recognizing that we don’t know if we will be able to provide the opportunity to apply for trees to be planted in the fall of 2025, we strongly encourage everyone interested in planting trees in 2025 to apply now for trees to be planted in the spring of 2025.
• For anyone applying to get trees in the spring of 2025 to meet the requirements of the Stormwater Utility Credit Program, please make sure to indicate this on your application. 
• If funding is secured, there is the possibility that there will only be one opportunity for applying for trees next fiscal year: the spring of 2026. The anticipated deadline would be in January of 2026. 

ABOUT Our Tree canopy Equity program

At EcoAction Arlington, we believe a thriving tree canopy should be accessible to every community member, regardless of where they live. That’s why we launched the Tree Canopy Equity Program, a key part of our mission to foster an environmentally just and sustainable Arlington.

This program specifically serves historically under-resourced neighborhoods with low tree canopy coverage. This lack of greenery contributes to a cascade of challenges, including poorer health outcomes, higher utility bills, and a reduced quality of life. By focusing our planting efforts in these areas, we help cool urban heat islands, purify the air, absorb carbon dioxide, enhance local property values, and offer all residents the health and environmental benefits trees provide.

In its inaugural year, EcoAction Arlington identified 10 neighborhoods severely lacking in tree coverage and, based on a thorough analysis of both environmental and demographic data, deemed the most in need of our sustained planting efforts. In 2024, we expanded our reach to include three additional neighborhoods. Through partnerships with local civic associations , the support of the Arlington County Forestry and Natural Resources Commission, and the support of many generous funders, the Tree Canopy Equity Program ensures that our greening efforts are inclusive and impactful.

Thanks to the generosity of many funders, residents of our 13 target neighborhoods are provided a wider range of species to plant including small trees and shrubs.

Together, we’re not just planting trees—we’re growing healthier, more resilient communities for everyone in Arlington.

If sufficient funding is available, we offer two planting cycles annually: Spring and Fall. If you own private property in Arlington—whether it’s a single-family home, townhouse, condo, or a place of worship—you may be eligible for a native tree or shrub planted on your property.

**Please note that public properties like schools and parks do not qualify for this program.*

APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 7, 2025

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Our Process:

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