Nearly two years after the launch of the Philly Tree Plan, the City’s ambitious effort to reverse decades of urban canopy loss is still in its infancy. A $12 million U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) grant represents a significant step forward, but community advocates and public health leaders worry that progress isn’t moving quickly enough. With the Philly Tree Coalition beginning to take shape, stakeholders like the Public Health Management Corporation (PHMC) and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS) are stepping in to advance the plan’s goals. But as funding gaps persist and public health stakes rise, is the City’s green vision truly taking root?
An Ambitious Start
An ambitious investment in Philadelphians’ well-being, the Philly Tree Plan was released in 2023 by Philadelphia Parks & Recreation (PPR). The plan aims to expand the city’s tree canopy to 30% in every neighborhood within 30 years. The plan promises transformative outcomes: improved public health, equitable access to green spaces and a safer, cleaner city. So, two years in, is the Philly Tree Plan delivering?
“The Philly Tree Plan is an incredible initiative, but aligning stakeholders and funding streams takes time,” says Kristine Gonnella of PHMC. And there’s skepticism among Philly residents like Jacelyn Blank, cofounder of Philly Tree People, who is cautious about placing too much faith in bureaucracy. “The City has a history of removing trees for development projects like Cobbs Creek and the FDR Meadows,” says Blank. “We’re fighting against a tide of urban forest loss.”
Still, there are wins to celebrate. The $12 million dollar USDA grant has fueled not only tree planting and maintenance but also workforce development efforts. In 2024 alone, more than 300 trees were planted through the Taking Care of Business program, which focuses on commercial corridors. Eight of the proposed 24 newly-budgeted positions have been filled, and pruning and removal budgets doubled in fiscal year 2023. “We’re making progress, but trust-building is crucial,” says the City’s first city forester, Erica Smith Fichman, who leads the Urban Forestry Unit at PPR and spearheaded the Philly Tree Plan effort.
On paper there’s a net increase of staff and a diversification of the roles, but in practice the number of [people] hasn’t increased.”
— Erica Smith Fichman, Philadelphia City Forester
But despite the idealistic goals of the original plan, bureaucratic gridlock has resulted in a shell game effect of retirements, position reshuffling and an endless list of to-dos for the many well-intentioned partners in the Philly Tree Plan. “Since we’re including tree maintenance crews and inspectors, and lots of retirements, it has not resulted in a net increase since we released the plan. On paper there’s a net increase of staff and a diversification of the roles, but in practice the number of [people] hasn’t increased.” Smith Fichman says.
Meanwhile, a new initiative, the Philly Tree Coalition, is underway. The coalition will oversee accountability and the progress of the plan and incorporate community input. “Some things are just going to take longer than expected — like hiring staff, developing brand-new programs like the hazardous tree removal program that will remove trees for residents on private property,” says Smith Fichman. “But our partners are making progress possible. They’re truly invested in building trust in our neighborhoods.”

In 2023, PPR collaborated with PHMC to apply for a $50 million USDA grant on behalf of the City. They were successful, at least partially. “In retrospect, it was serendipitous,” says Gonnella. “Getting $12 million was huge right on the heels of the Philly Tree Plan’s release. So much of the plan intersects with public health, so it was a natural fit for PHMC to work on this with Parks & Rec.” Although the USDA grant wasn’t the first funding specifically awarded to advance the Tree Plan, it was the biggest. “The City budget contained specific funding for the Tree Plan in 2023,” says Smith Fichman. “Our tree maintenance budget was doubled, we received funding for new staff and a natural lands assessment.” The William Penn Foundation also provided grant money to fund an assessment of the natural lands’ tree canopy and creation of the Philly Tree Coalition.
Trees as a Public Health Imperative
Philly’s shrinking tree canopy — down 6% over the past decade — has exacerbated the urban heat island effect and worsened health disparities, leaving many neighborhoods vulnerable to climate change. The Philly Tree Plan prioritizes areas like Nicetown-Tioga, Southwest Philly and Hunting Park, where high temperatures and poor air quality hit hardest. In Nicetown-Tioga, there’s currently a paid pilot program for PHS Tree Tenders. “Deferred tree maintenance is a priority in 2025,” says Justin Trezza, senior director of healthy neighborhoods at PHS. PHS is also using grant funds to plant and maintain trees at Bartram’s Garden, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Middle Years Alternative School.
But not all volunteer groups are being compensated for their time. Philly Tree People is one of the largest and longest-running nonprofit tree tending groups in the city. The group serves Fishtown, Kensington and Port Richmond. Blank’s passion for trees stems from her own experience moving to Philly 20 years ago. “I grew up in Chester County, surrounded by green,” she recalls. “When I moved to Kensington, I became acutely aware of how hot and barren so many blocks were.” But Philly Tree People’s success lies in the ability to mobilize neighbors and tap into civic pride. “We’re all volunteers,” Blank says. “We need funding to pay people for the hours of work that go into organizing and doing the work of the tree plantings.” She sees the Philly Tree Plan as a last-ditch effort to educate the public and foster a cultural shift towards valuing trees. “It’s been slow,” she says of the plan’s execution.
Public health crises like COVID have shown how interconnected our systems are. Increasing the tree canopy is critical to sustaining healthier communities.”
— Kristine Gonnella, Public Health Management Corporation
Blank’s impatience is warranted. “In areas with the lowest tree canopy, we see the highest rates of asthma, gun violence and other health disparities,” says Gonnella. “Increasing the canopy is a direct intervention to improve health outcomes.” A PHMC community health center in Kingsessing exemplifies this intersection. With funding from the USDA grant, PHMC is transforming a long-closed courtyard into a green community space. “This area has been locked away for 30 years. Reopening it will be monumental for the community.”
Still, many challenges remain in prioritizing green infrastructure in a city grappling with poverty and housing instability. But Blank remains hopeful. “There’s growing interest in green industries, and we have incredible young people ready to make a difference.”
Building Infrastructure and Community Engagement
In large part, the Philly Tree Plan’s success hinges on the Philly Tree Coalition, a governance model designed to organize partners, meet the plan’s goals and provide accountability. “The next six months are crucial for standing up the coalition,” says Kate Illes of Tree Philly. Plans include hiring an executive director and launching a six-month action plan to coordinate stakeholders and funding. Funds from the William Penn Foundation and the USDA grant are supplemented by support from partner organizations like PowerCorpsPHL, the Fairmount Park Conservancy and especially PHS, which provides the Philly Tree Coalition with office space. “After this initial six months, we hope to have a six-month action plan. My hope is that the end product of this work is to build a strong coalition that coordinates people and organizations and facilitates education, communication and fundraising.”
Economic Opportunities and Grassroots Perspective
Workforce development is key to the Philly Tree Plan. Programs like PowerCorpsPHL have laid the groundwork for sustainable, local jobs in urban forestry, but advocates say more investment is needed. “Tree maintenance is often outsourced. We should be building that capacity locally,” says Gonnella. According to Smith Fichman, the city’s budget for pruning and tree removals was doubled in fiscal year 2023.
Volunteer groups like Philly Tree People have planted thousands of trees since 2007 but face challenges like community resistance and limited resources.“People think trees will take their parking spaces,” Blank says. “Very few volunteers want to prune or care for trees long-term. We need funding to compensate folks.” Scaling paid Tree Tender programs citywide could help to do just that.

Urgency Amid Climate and Political Uncertainty
As the climate crisis intensifies, the City faces mounting pressure to act. Gonnella frames the Tree Plan as a long-term investment in the city’s resilience. “Public health crises like COVID have shown how interconnected our systems are. Increasing the tree canopy is critical to sustaining healthier communities,” she says. But political uncertainty could jeopardize future funding. “There’s always the risk of shifting federal priorities. That’s why we need local funders and foundations to step up,” she says.
To fully realize this plan’s potential, the City could address its $250 million funding gap, scale up workforce development — including creating dozens of new jobs and programs — and deliver on promises of equity and accountability. As Trezza notes, “The success of this plan hinges on collaboration and sustained investment.”
Advocates like Blank are ready to do their part, but they can’t do it alone. The plan is more than just a road map for expanding the tree canopy — it’s a blueprint for a healthier, more equitable city. “We’re not just greening the city; we’re improving lives,” says Gonnella. “But it’s going to take all of us — government, nonprofits and communities — to make it happen.”