Category Archives

Community Forestry

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

Posted by: Jeremy Kranowitz
Posted: October 1, 2024
Categories: Community Forestry, Education, Engaged Citizens, KIB in the News, News & Features, Research & Data, Tree Tenders, Trees and Native Habitats, Uncategorized, Volunteers

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 […]

Join the Effort: Enhancing Tree Equity in Indianapolis

Posted by: Benjamin Shine
Posted: June 7, 2024
Categories: Community Forestry, Education, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Partners, Research & Data, Trees and Native Habitats

If you could plant 3,000 trees anywhere in the City, where would you plant them? And, why? This is the question Keep Indianapolis Beautiful is faced with answering each year. We know trees provide incredible benefits like cooling our neighborhoods and reducing air conditioning costs, while also soaking up stormwater to prevent street flooding. With […]

Meet our Urban Naturalists!

Posted by: Benjamin Shine
Posted: May 28, 2024
Categories: AES Indiana Project Greenspace, Community Forestry, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Trees and Native Habitats, Uncategorized, Urban Naturalists

Summer is around the corner, which means its time to welcome our newest team members: our Urban Naturalists! This year’s Urban Naturalists (UNs) represent four universities and will spend the next few months doing meaningful, environmental work for our city while engaging neighbors in community-based environmental stewardship. What kind of work exactly? The Urban Naturalists […]

Planting seeds of unity and growth

Posted by: Jeremy Kranowitz
Posted: April 3, 2024
Categories: Community Forestry, Engaged Citizens, Partners, Trees and Native Habitats

On Thursday, March 28, we partnered with the Center for Interfaith Cooperation to celebrate the arrival of Spring with an interfaith tree planting at Marian University. Spring is often associated with rebirth and renewal. In addition to welcoming the many wonders of Spring, this season also holds special significance for several faith communities as they […]

Rooted in Passion: How YTT Shaped Cullen’s Career Path

Posted by: Benjamin Shine
Posted: February 1, 2024
Categories: Community Forestry, Education, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Trees and Native Habitats, Youth Tree Team

Meet Cullen Booth! A force of green goodness, Cullen embarked on his journey with the Youth Tree Team (YTT) back in 2014. From pruning crew to leader, Cullen’s YTT adventure molded him into the environmental champion he is today. Now living in Indianapolis with his partner, Cullen rocks his role as a Natural Resources Technician, […]

Bridging Cities and Nature as an Urban Naturalist

Posted by: Benjamin Shine
Posted: January 29, 2024
Categories: AES Indiana Project Greenspace, Community Forestry, Education, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Trees and Native Habitats, Uncategorized, Urban Naturalists

Sydney Geckler is currently pursuing her fifth (and final!) year of Urban Planning at the University of Cincinnati. Over the last five years, her journey has been filled with growth, exploration, and passion… a lot of which stemmed from the Urban Naturalist program! As an alum, she was able to not only expand her knowledge […]

Branching Out: From YTT Leader to Environmental Trailblazer

Posted by: Benjamin Shine
Posted: January 23, 2024
Categories: Community Forestry, Engaged Citizens, Habitat Restoration, Trees and Native Habitats, Uncategorized, Youth Tree Team

Meet Ann Young, a passionate Indy resident with a unique blend of interests in conservation biology, ecology, and art history. Originally from Texas, Ann moved to Indiana almost three years ago. Her biology degree was one of the many things that made her interested in applying for the Youth Tree Team (YTT) program. From gaining […]

Local Faith Leaders Gather for Tree Planting

Posted by: Jeremy Kranowitz
Posted: November 28, 2023
Categories: Community Forestry, Engaged Citizens, KIB in the News, News & Features, Partners, Trees and Native Habitats, Volunteers

For the last decade, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving has been touted as Giving Tuesday, a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. But for Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, it’s Giving Treesday. On Tuesday, November 28, we partnered with the Center for Interfaith Cooperation to host “Giving Treesday” […]

Community Love Fest Clean-Up occurs hours after carjacking in same area

Posted by: Derek Glass
Posted: June 12, 2023
Categories: Community Forestry, Great Indy Cleanup, KIB in the News

Vests were on and buckets were in hand for day one of Community Love Fest. Love Fest is a grassroots effort to drive out hate with love across the city. It kicked off with the “Great Indy Clean-Up” along East 34th St. and Keystone Avenue. See the full story from FOX 59 below.

JD Finish Line Foundation partners with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful

Posted by: Derek Glass
Posted: May 17, 2023
Categories: Community Forestry, Custom Day of Service, Partners

JD Finish Line Foundation has partnered with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful for the 2023 Employee Campaign where employees donated a portion of their paycheck to serve their corporate community on the Far Eastside of Indianapolis. Employees raised around $44,500 which was matched by the Foundation to support Keep Indianapolis Beautiful’s mission for the Far Eastside. On […]