Columbus Recreation and Parks Department's Forestry team described three months of Urban Forestry Master Plan work in a bulletin dated Sept. 29, 2026.
Fall tree giveaways are planned by Green Columbus at two sites: Dodge Community Center on Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the group's Linden nursery at 1142 E. 17th Ave. on Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents are urged to register promptly so they can pick a species.
ArborFest on Aug. 22 at Whetstone Park drew about 2,600 attendees, according to the bulletin. Assistant City Forester Chad Hoff and Shelly Douglas of Green Columbus gave a Tree Summit presentation, Forestry staff led a planting demonstration, and pruning and climbing demonstrations were offered.
This spring the department planted 1,400 trees along streets and in parks and held four events that planted 87 trees with volunteers and partners. Six organizations will plant on private property this fall through the Columbus Tree Assistance Program, which the department said awarded $50,400. Those recipients were Bethel International United Methodist Church, Glenwood United Methodist Church, Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families, Mill Run Owners Association, Old Oaks Horticultural Club and Rockwood Court Condominium Association. The bulletin credits Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District and Green Columbus as program partners.
A conservation event is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at Stockbridge Park in the Far South neighborhood. The park was reforested at the end of 2022 and is a priority area in the plan's equity analysis. Planned work includes litter cleanup and pollinator habitat improvements, with registration requested.
On inventory, the Forestry section reported inspecting 17,902 trees since Oct. 30, 2025, and adding 5,157 trees not previously recorded. Of those inspected, 2,246 were in the right-of-way and 15,656 grow in parks or on other City property. Crews inventoried 116 parks and 26 non-park areas, primarily right-of-way. The prior park inventory dated from 2012 to 2016.