Raleigh Plans to Plant 24,000 Trees by City's 240th Anniversary

The Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department took its "Leaf Out" campaign before City Council today at the Raleigh Municipal Building, Room 201, at 222 W. Hargett St., asking for funding to plant 24,000 trees across the city by 2032 in celebration of Raleigh's 240th anniversary.

The plan, formally titled "Leaf Out: Goals and Guidance for Trees on City Property," focuses on protecting mature trees and sensitive habitats, expanding the urban tree canopy to reduce urban heat islands, and promoting environmental stewardship on city-owned properties and rights-of-way. Trees are also intended to be planted by residents on private property on a voluntary basis, though the plan explicitly will not touch private tree regulations or the Unified Development Ordinance.

The Parks, Recreation and Greenway Advisory Board approved the Leaf Out Situation Assessment, a pre-planning document outlining project scope and community engagement, on October 17, 2024. Today's City Council presentation marked the program's push for formal funding and broader civic visibility.

The South Wake Conservationists, an NCWF chapter serving southern Wake County, organized supporters to attend the session wearing green. "We need your support to show City Council that this program is worth funding," wrote Kara Solomon in a post urging attendance. "Join us on March 17th and wear green so that city officials will see that there is a broader movement behind this program. Come show your support and get a fun, free sticker!"

The city describes Leaf Out as a data-driven initiative that will gather and analyze information on tree coverage, habitat connectivity, and environmental impacts, coordinating with other city departments on stormwater management and climate resilience. A stated equity objective is to expand canopy specifically in underserved areas and create equal access to tree canopy benefits across all communities.

The project is currently in its Vision and Goals phase, running through summer 2025, with benchmarking and long-term goal development underway. A 5-year action plan is expected to take shape during the Next Steps phase in fall and winter 2025, with the overall plan development timeline running through 2026. Actual plantings are targeted for completion by 2032, giving the city roughly six years after plan finalization to reach the 24,000-tree mark.

No budget figures or cost-per-tree estimates have been released publicly. The city has not specified which tree species will be planted, which neighborhoods will receive the most new canopy, or whether the 24,000-tree target includes voluntary residential plantings or reflects only city-planned and city-funded work on public land.

Residents can complete the Branching Out: Reflecting Raleigh Survey through the city's engagement portal to help shape long-term priorities for urban trees and climate resilience. Questions about the project can be directed to LeafOut@PublicInput.com, or to project contact Emma Liles at Emma.Liles@raleighnc.gov.