The New York Restoration Project on Wednesday announced the return of its annual free tree giveaway program for Earth Month, with several distribution events scheduled across Brooklyn this spring.
From April 4 through May 16, the nonprofit plans to distribute 3,750 trees across New York City, an increase from the 3,500 typically given away in recent years. The initiative allows residents to receive free native trees and shrubs to plant at home, helping expand the city’s urban tree canopy while promoting greener, more climate-resilient neighborhoods.
“New York Restoration Project’s free tree giveaways are a cherished spring tradition across our city,” said New York Restoration Project Executive Director Lynn Bodnar Kelly. “Getting more trees into the neighborhoods that need them most is essential for our city's long-term climate resilience.”
This year’s giveaway will feature 22 different species of native trees and shrubs selected for their ability to thrive in the region’s climate while supporting local ecosystems. Among the varieties available are pawpaw, American persimmon, American plum, eastern redbud, flowering dogwood and highbush blueberry.
Native trees provide a wide range of environmental benefits. In dense urban areas like Brooklyn, trees help lower temperatures by providing shade and reducing the urban heat island effect. They also improve air quality, absorb carbon dioxide, reduce stormwater runoff during heavy rains and create habitat for birds, pollinators and other wildlife.
Several tree giveaway events will take place across Brooklyn throughout April and May, giving residents multiple opportunities to participate.
The first Brooklyn event will be held April 4 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at Green-Wood Cemetery in Sunset Park. Another distribution is scheduled for April 18 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum on Clarendon Road in Canarsie.
Residents can pick up trees on April 25 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm at Pineapple Plaza on Bay Parkway in Bensonhurst. A Brighton Beach event will follow on April 30 from noon to 3:00pm at a TD Bank location on Brighton Beach Avenue.
Two additional Brooklyn giveaways are planned for May 2. One will take place from 9:00pm to 11:00am at the McCarren Park Demonstration Garden on Leonard Street in Greenpoint, while another will be held at the same time at Red Hook Farms on Columbia Street in Red Hook.
The final Brooklyn distribution is scheduled for May 16 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at the Aberdeen Community Garden in Bushwick.
Residents interested in receiving a free tree must register in advance through the New York Restoration Project’s website. Trees are typically provided in small containers that make them easier for participants to transport home and plant in their own outdoor spaces.
The tree giveaway program began in 2008 as part of the MillionTreesNYC initiative, a citywide effort launched in partnership with NYC Parks to plant and care for one million new trees across the five boroughs. Although the campaign officially concluded in 2015, the New York Restoration Project has continued the popular giveaway program, which has become a seasonal tradition for many New Yorkers.
Since the program began, more than 80,500 trees have been distributed to residents across the city. Organizers say the effort helps empower communities to participate directly in environmental stewardship by planting and maintaining trees in private yards, gardens and shared community spaces.
