City of Evansville, IN | Climate Action Dashboard
© 2026
2026 Spring Tree Planting in Bayard Park
2026 Spring Tree Planting in Bayard Park
Planting trees is a proven way to keep the city cooler, improve air quality, and manage stormwater. Our Urban Tree Canopy Assessment includes a heat map that shows that the denser the forest the cooler the area. With extreme heat being a major consequence of climate change for our city, we cannot ignore this natural tool that's been used to provide shade and cooling for centuries. The City’s Urban Forestry team already cares for street trees and enforces tree rules, while the Evansville Forest Alliance has helped plant trees in neighborhoods and parks. The Vanderburgh County Solid Waste Management District has also helped fund native tree plantings in city parks for the last 5 years. These efforts help shade buildings and streets, reducing the need for air conditioning, while also cleaning the air, storing carbon, and creating more enjoyable outdoor spaces.
When calculating the increase in tree canopy and number of trees planted, we included the community fall and spring plantings that have been done over the last five years along with plantings performed throughout the year when city projects take out trees. This replanting ratio is 15 to 1. Meaning when one tree gets cut down for a project 15 more get planted! The tree canopy increase is based on mature tree estimates, which averages 7 acres of coverage per tree.
Metrics
total tree canopy cover
Between 1/1/2024 - 12/31/2025
acres of greenspace in the city
As of 1/1/2026
trees planted by the city & partners
Between 1/1/2025 - 12/31/2025
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Increases local resilience
Programs, policies, and practices that improve local energy reliability, infrastructure integrity, food supply, water quality, waste management, and other essential needs will improve our local energy, economic, environmental, and community resilience to climate impacts, particularly for underserved populations and neighborhoods most vulnerable to those impacts.
Improves quality of life/place
Incorporating greenspace and green infrastructure in community design contributes to cleaner air and water, cooler temperatures, restorative recreational and social spaces, and a more attractive and livable community. Increasing public awareness about programs and services that will better prepare residents to cope with climate impacts will improve community resiliency and quality of life.
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Supports biodiversity
Protecting and restoring natural ecosystems and green spaces, while minimizing disruptive human activities and negative impacts, will benefit land, air, and water quality, as well as wildlife habitats, thereby enhancing biodiversity and environmental resilience.
