Urban Trees

"Given a limited budget, the most effective expenditure of funds to improve a street would probably be on trees. Assuming trees are appropriate in the first place and that someone will take care of them, trees can transform a street more easily than any other physical improvement. Moreover, for many people trees are the most important single characteristic of a good street."

Allan B. Jacobs, from his book Great Streets

The NeighborWoods program is a partnering between the City, the Springfield Tree City USA Citizens Advisory Committee and recognized neighborhood groups or other non-profit groups for the purpose of enhancing Springfield's community forest. City funds used for purchasing tax-exempt trees from area nurseries through an established City contract and then neighborhood volunteers plant the trees.

The City of Springfield is honored to have been recognized since 1985 by the National Arbor Day Foundation as being a community that places a great deal of importance on our community's asset of city trees. We have also received our 6th Growth Award for special achievements related to our City's tree care program for the past three years.