St. Pete Standard

The City of St. Petersburg is embarking on the Community Canopy Initiative, an endeavor dedicated to planting 1,000 trees across the city within a year. This initiative starts with a tree giveaway scheduled for Saturday, April 19, in celebration of Earth Month. Residents will have the opportunity to obtain one of the 500 trees available, providing a way to commemorate Earth Day and Arbor Day while enhancing the greenery of St. Petersburg.

City officials scheduled the event at two locations: Walter Fuller Recreation Center and Frank Pierce Recreation Center, both occurring from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The initiative is open to all St. Pete residents, with households receiving one tree each on a first-come, first-served basis. Trees must be planted on private property and not in public right of ways. Organic soil and mulch will also be available for residents who bring their own containers.

Residents can choose from four tree varieties, including South Florida Slash Pine, Sand Live Oak, Sweetgum, and Sugarberry, depending on availability. The initiative encourages residents to become actively involved, contributing to the city's sustainability while reaping the benefits of having trees at home.

The Community Canopy Initiative aims to boost St. Pete’s urban tree canopy, providing improvements in air quality, reduced heat island effects, and increased biodiversity. By offering free trees to residents, the City of St. Petersburg strives to foster a greener and healthier urban setting, enriching the community for future generations. Further information about the initiative and event details can be found at www.stpete.org/Trees.