City, partners branch out with Arbor Day tree plantings

City, partners branch out with Arbor Day tree plantings

Published on November 11, 2025

Fort Worth has promoted sound urban forestry practices since 1873, when the city charter declared it illegal to hitch a horse to a tree.

Again this year, Fort Worth Park & Recreation joined with community partners to celebrate Texas Arbor Day on Nov. 7, marking this year's statewide celebration of the importance of trees. Texas observes the day during autumn, the best time to plant trees in the Lone Star State.

Following a brief ceremony, volunteers planted dozens of young trees, and the Fort Worth Garden Club and Tarrant County Master Gardeners gave away seedling trees to attendees.

Tree City - again

Fort Worth has been named a Tree City USA in honor of its commitment to effective urban forest management. The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters.

Fort Worth is the oldest and longest-running Tree City USA in Texas, a designation the City first received in 1978.

TRWD shades the Trinity

Thanks to feedback from local residents who asked for more shade along the trails of the Trinity River, Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) planted more than 20 trees along the Fourth Street Trailhead, at the lower west fork of the Trinity. The river will gain an additional 25-plus trees on Friday, Nov. 14, when TRWD hosts another planting event along the recreation paths at Clearfork's River Park Trailhead.

These initiatives are part of TRWD's Recreation Master Plan, approved by the board in January and developed over the last two years in collaboration with the community.

"A lot of public outreach and involvement went into the plan," said Paris Sanchez, TRWD landscape architect manager. "We asked what people wanted in their local recreation system, and overwhelmingly we heard their desire for more shade along the Trinity Trails."

The recreational paths that run along the Trinity River - a network of more than 100 miles - are used for walking, running, biking and more. With this latest move by TRWD to translate community feedback into action, the experience of enjoying nature and activities along these trails will soon be enhanced by the shade of new trees. The plan, Sanchez said, is to start now and continue planting each year, addressing different spaces along the trails.

Texas native or native-adapted trees will be planted, including red oak, live oak, bur oak, chinquapin oak, lacey oak, cedar and lacebark elm, bald cypress and Chinese pistache. All are compatible with the Texas climate. The trees will range from 12-25 feet tall at planting. Their starting size, Sanchez said, is considered ideal for growth in the years to come.

While specifics at each location may slightly vary, it's expected that the trees will be planted about 50 feet apart, to provide room and good shade coverage as they grow.

TRWD will provide irrigation for the first two years to ensure they get a strong start - and the plan ensures that the trees will be planted in safe areas, far enough back so the levee systems stay protected as the trees expand roots and reach maturity.

TRWD has a $25,000 annual budget to continue planting in future years; this year, Texas A&M Forestry provided a matching grant of $20,000 to support the kickoff.

Community recommendations for future planting spots are welcomed.

Photo at top: Volunteers, City and TRWD staff chipped in to help plant trees at the Fourth Street Trailhead.

Photo: Joel McElhany, Fort Worth assistant director of Park & Recreation, and Courtney Blevins of the Texas A&M Forest Service celebrate the 47th year as a Tree City.

Photo: District 3 Councilmember Michael D. Crain joined community members to plant a tree in recognition of the reopening of Foster Park following a dredging project that improved the neighborhood park's ponds.

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• Environment
• District 3