Detroit closes in on goal to double tree canopy

March 11, 2026

Detroit City Council Member Scott Benson is requesting that Mayor Mary Sheffield increase the city's Forestry Division budget by $4 million beyond her proposed modest increase from $5. 8 million to $5. 9 million.

Who is affected

Detroit residents (potential workers and beneficiaries of tree planting)
City Council Member Scott Benson
Mayor Mary Sheffield
General Services Department Director Crystal Perkins
Chief Procurement Officer Sandra Stahl
The Forestry Division staff
Ten tree service contractors (two Detroit-based, five considered Detroit vendors, eight employing Detroit residents)
Residents in neighborhoods with existing tree canopies (Indian Village, Palmer Woods, Sherwood Forest, Grandmont Rosedale)
Residents in Districts 1, 2, and 3 (where tree inventory was conducted)
Partner organizations involved in tree planting

What action is being taken

The city is collecting data on its tree canopy across Detroit using LiDAR technology to create three-dimensional maps
Detroit is planting trees toward its goal of 75,000 new trees by 2027 (52,665 planted since 2022)
The city is offering free tree planting requests to residents in spring and fall
The city is developing a new tree viewer application to allow residents and staff to view individual tree conditions
City Council is reviewing Sheffield's 2026-27 budget proposal

Why it matters

Tree expansion significantly impacts Detroit's environmental health, economic vitality, and community well-being. The increased tree canopy provides measurable benefits including lower temperatures, improved air quality, reduced flooding, and higher property values for nearby homes. Beyond environmental advantages, the initiative represents an economic development opportunity to employ more Detroit residents in meaningful work that builds neighborhood pride and stability. The debate over funding levels reflects larger questions about whether Detroit should prioritize bringing services in-house to benefit local workers versus outsourcing to the lowest bidders, making this decision consequential for both the city's ecological future and its workforce development strategy.

What's next

City Council will vote to authorize a final spending plan in April
The Dead, Diseased, and Dangerous Tree Program will continue with $1 million in funding (if budget is approved)
Tree trimming and removal services will continue under the 10 authorized contracts worth $18 million over the next three years
The tree viewer application will be launched to allow monitoring of individual tree conditions

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com