Rebuilding Indianapolis’ Tree Canopy: The Good, the Bad, and How to Get Involved

By: Jeremy Kranowitz

As the President and CEO of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful (KIB), I’m writing to you with a story that has both a challenging side and a hopeful future—especially if we work together. Let’s start with the tough part.

A recent study by American Forests found that over the past decade, Indianapolis’ tree canopy has declined—from covering an average of 33% of the city to just 29%. 

This loss has significant consequences for our community. Trees are not just nice to look at; they are critical to our quality of life. They keep our neighborhoods cooler during hot summer months by providing shade, they slow flooding by absorbing rainwater, they filter the air we breathe by trapping pollutants, and believe it or not, neighborhoods with fewer trees even experience higher rates of violent crime.

This is why protecting and increasing our tree canopy is so essential to the health of our city. Unfortunately, while some parts of Marion County, like Geist and Eagle Creek, enjoy more than 60% tree coverage, other neighborhoods struggle with less than 10%.

But here’s the good news: KIB, alongside amazing partners like the City of Indianapolis and Citizens Energy Group, has planted over 50,000 trees with the help of thousands of volunteers. We’ve made sure that each one of those trees gets 15 gallons of water per week during its first few years, so they grow healthy and strong. That’s a lot of water, but it’s worth it to ensure these trees thrive for decades to come.

So why has our tree canopy gone down, even with all this effort? There are three main reasons:

1. A decade ago, Indianapolis was hit by the Emerald Ash Borer, an invasive beetle that killed off many of our ash trees.
2. We’ve lost large numbers of mature trees to property development—sometimes illegally cut down to make way for construction.
3. While many of our young trees are doing well, they haven’t grown large enough yet to have a major impact on our overall canopy.

But, here’s where the story gets better: we’ve just secured a $12 million contract with the U.S. Forest Service to improve Indianapolis’ urban trees over the next five years. This funding will help us prune mature trees to prevent them from losing heavy branches, extend their lifespan, and remove old stumps so we can plant new trees in their place. And this might be the most exciting part—over the next four years, we will be planting an additional 4,500 trees across the city, focusing on schools, houses of worship, and neighborhoods that need them most.

Now, here’s where you come in. We’ve made a lot of progress, but we have so much more to do. If you’ve ever wondered how you can help make Indianapolis a greener, healthier city, here are three ways you can be part of the solution:

Donate: Our work is made possible by supporters like you. Your contributions help us continue planting trees, maintaining green spaces, and educating our community. Please consider making a donation at www.kibi.org/donate. Every dollar makes a difference.

Join a Tree Planting: We’ll be organizing tree planting events throughout the year. Whether you’re a seasoned volunteer or new to the cause, we need your help! Find opportunities to volunteer with us at www.kibi.org/volunteer.

Advocate for Trees: Know a neighborhood, school, or community space that could use more trees? Let us know! You can request trees at www.kibi.org/trees, and together, we’ll help ensure that those trees thrive for years to come.

The challenges are real, but so is our determination. With your help, we can make sure Indianapolis doesn’t just maintain its tree canopy—we can grow it, creating a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful city for all.

Thank you for being part of the solution!

Categories: Community Forestry, Education, Engaged Citizens, KIB in the News, News & Features, Research & Data, Tree Tenders, Trees and Native Habitats, Uncategorized, Volunteers