City of Mt. Pleasant Free Tree Planting Program

The City of Mt. Pleasant plants a variety of trees in the city’s right-of-way as part of the Urban Forestry Plan. Residential property owners within the city limits, are eligible for one free tree per year, to be planted in the right-of-way in front of their property. The Street Department will determine the best location for the tree. Once planted, the property owner is asked to water the tree as directed, especially during the hot summer months, or extended periods without rainfall.

To view the tree brochure as well as complete a tree application, visit www.mt-pleasant.org/streets.
Applications are due by March 13, 2026.

Residents who wish to plant their own tree in the right-of-way must obtain a permit from DPW. There is no charge for the permit, but there are a few tree species that are prohibited by city ordinance. For more information, please contact the Division of Public Works office at 989-779-5401.

City of Mt. Pleasant Awarded DNR Grant

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) recently awarded $1 million in grants to hep 15 Michigan communities improve their tree canopies. Mt. Pleasant was one of the communities awarded, receiving $100,000 for public tree planting and maintenance activities to support a sustainable urban forest.

According to the DNR, these statewide grants will collectively plant and care for more than 1,700 trees, train 500 city staff, students, and residents through 33 workshops and events, and create inventories and develop plans to sustainably manage more than 32,000 public trees benefiting more than 285,000 Michigan residents.

This grant program is made possible through funding provided by the USDA Forest Service’s Urban and Community Forestry Program. The Michigan DNR Urban and Community Forestry Program is a federally funded program providing technical, educational and grant assistance to communities, nonprofits, educational institutions and tribes to build capacity for managing trees and forests in communities throughout the state.

Tree Inventory to Begin

A certified arborist from PlanIT Geo will be conducting an inventory and determining the health status of approximately 7,700 trees in city right-of-ways, parking lots, Riverside Cemetery, as well as Nelson and Island Parks. The right-of-way trees and parking lots will be inventoried first.

It is not necessary for residents to be home during the inventory, since all work will be completed within the street right-of-way and on city property.

2023 Inventory Dates:

May 23 – June 2

June 20-29

July dates – TBD

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources awarded a $15,000 Community Forestry Grant to the City of Mt. Pleasant to conduct this tree inventory. Over time, the City will have a comprehensive method to track plantings, removals, species, and the overall health of its right-of-way trees.