“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”― Margaret Atwood
Well, spring snuck up on us again, and it has been strange to say the least. Our winter was dry and saw little snowfall, leading to an early bloom and leaf-out for many of our neighborwoods. As we move through a dry spring, we've been learning and adapting to drought and uncertainty. But we're also encouraging our community to stay positive, and stretching our legs after planting our way into May. Denver Digs Trees and TreeForce have completed their spring cycles, and Community Forester and Mile High Tree Champions are underway. Below are some updates on how the season has gone, and some calls to action to help you stay cool as Denver gets warmer.
In conflicting times when energy feels down, our community keeps us up and moving. Thank you to residents, tree recipients, volunteers, partners, sponsors, and supporters near and far. It is because of you that we are able to plant a healthy and green Denver.
- The Park People
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In this issue...
- Thriving During Drought: First Steps
- Denver Digs Trees 2026 Impact
- The Park People & Denver Water Video
- Safety First! Stop Sign Obstruction Reporting
- Tree Care Tips Video: The Park People & Denver Forestry
- TreeForce: Cohort 8 Graduates!
- Donate to our Spring Appeal
- Park Legacy: Plant A Legacy With A Tribute Tree
- Discover Walks Wash Park: Trees of Washington Park
- Explore Our Resources Page
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Thriving During Drought: Things To Know & First Steps To Take
As some of you may know, Denver’s Board of Water Commissioners recently declared a Stage 1 Drought as a result of historically low snowpack, which we rely on for our city’s water supply. Residents are being asked to reduce their water use by 20% to mitigate the current drought, and prevent our communities from experiencing even stricter water restrictions as we head into warmer months. So, what does this mean for tree lovers? We know that drought can be scary. Trees play a critical role in the health of our city, and many of us worry that our trees might not get the water they need to sustain them. A tree’s decades of growth can be lost in a single year of inadequate care. But we also see this as an opportunity to maximize our impact on the urban forest, to promote tree care and adapt our yards and neighborhoods to water-wise landscapes that will continue to provide you shade, while also harvesting available rainwater, protecting pollinators, and keeping Denver green and beautiful. Here are some things you should know:
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Who can water when?
- You are allowed to hand water or drip irrigate trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, and vegetables on any day of the week, but only during cooler hours (after 6:00 pm and before 10:00 am)
- You are allowed to spray irrigate up to two days per week, but only during cooler hours on your assigned days of the week
- If you have a new planting (such as a brand new Denver Digs tree), and you’re unable to water it during cooler hours, you can apply for a Watering Establishment Permit, which exempts time-of-day and day-of-the-week watering of any method for up to 3 weeks to establish your tree. Native grass projects are exempt for up to 8 weeks for establishment.
Choosing what to water:
- As an urban forestry nonprofit, we understand that trees and native and adapted grasses and flowers provide greater benefits to Denver’s landscapes (and are, in our opinion, more beautiful!) than Kentucky bluegrass lawns. Nonfunctional turfgrass ((lawn we step on just to mow) is often presented as lower maintenance, but does not contribute to the health of our communities, and actually uses larger quantities of water than trees or shrubs at any stage of life. Let’s save our precious water resources for what’s most important!
- Established trees can easily meet current watering restrictions without any change in watering. So if your tree is over a year old, hooray! You’re all set.
- As stated previously, new trees should be watered during cooler hours (between 6:00 pm and 10:00 am), though you can apply for a permit to receive an exemption.
- Consider shutting off all automatic spray/sprinkler systems, as lawns do not need to be watered more than one or two days a week until June. This is especially true if you have a tree adjacent to your lawn, as it keeps your lawn and surrounding environment cool!
How to get a permit:
Additional information:
- Denver Water is providing weekly updates on the status of the drought, as well as new resources and information each week to help their customers
- They also have a waitlist for water-wise grass seed to help you transform your yard!
- Check your inbox for an invitation to our Thriving During Drought event on May 19th, where we'll be answering your questions and sharing resources and action you can take as a resident and Park Person to keep your trees, yards, and communities green.
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Denver Digs Trees 2026 Impact*
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*projected lifetime benefits of trees distributed
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This spring, we distributed 1,200 trees to our community members through our Denver Digs Trees program, and the turnout was nothing short of impressive! Over 800 Denver households applied for these drought-tolerant, hardy trees. 60% of trees distributed went to residents of low-canopy neighborhoods, which means that the majority of this season's trees will grow to shade heat-vulnerable communities that need trees the most! Over 200 volunteers helped inspect tree sites, knock on resident doors to spread the word, unload and mulch trees, plant 172 trees for residents with physical limitations, and connect with others in their community about getting involved in this good, green work. Thank you for digging in with us!
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Words From People Who Dug In
“We are so proud to be here with The Park People distributing trees to all of our Denver friends to help improve our tree canopy and provide shade at an affordable price.”
-Sasha Reeves, Xcel Energy
“I received free trees for my yard through the Denver Digs Trees program in both 2025 and 2026. The trees I received in 2025 are currently thriving, and combined with those I recently received, will make a huge difference in cooling both my yard and house with their shade, as well as providing habitat for local wildlife. I am so grateful that a program like this exists; it is invaluable to our communities, especially those which do not have access to many resources.”
-Colleen Wallace, low-canopy neighborhood resident
“This is a wonderful event for getting more trees out in Denver. The Park People do a great job.”
-Neal Bamesberger, retired City Forester & Arborist
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Denver Water & The Park People: Denver Digs Trees
We are so fortunate to partner with Denver Water to keep our city cool, green and healthy. Learn more about how we partner with Denver Water on our Denver Digs Trees program, or watch the video below!
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Stop Sign Clearance Pruning
We're pleased to report that clearance pruning is back! You've been great about identifying trees that are hindering resident safety, and this past year we've pruned dozens of trees to improve tree health while reducing traffic and pedestrian accidents.
Our Arborist and team of trusted Community Foresters are ready to get back out there and check on our neighborwoods, and we need you to tell us where to go! If you're out for a drive or a walk and see a stop sign that is hidden by tree limbs, please fill out our below form.
We love our urban forest and the benefits it provides for us, and we want to make sure our community members and trees are healthy, protected, and thriving! Together, we can do our part to increase the safety of our communities, one tree at a time.
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The Park People and the Office of the City Forester: Protecting Denver's Trees
Learn about the importance of protecting and caring for the trees in your community by watching the video below!
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TreeForce: Cohort 8 Graduates!
Our eighth TreeForce cohort saw ten amazing graduates ready to enter the workforce with the skills needed to be tree care professionals (now including chainsaw training)! Five graduates have already received internships with the following municipalities and parks: City of Denver, City of Aurora, City of Littleton, and Washington Park. Other graduates are currently interviewing with tree care companies and forestry departments, and we expect to have at minimum 90% of graduates finding job placements before the end of May. It was an honor to work with these incredible graduates, we can't wait to see them in the field!
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We Need YOU To Make A Difference
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Trees make our lives more lively, and continue to improve our community’s well-being as they grow.
Unfortunately, federal-level actions are still deeply impacting our work, and making it harder for us to keep our communities happy and healthy. The importance of individual contributions, as well as support from businesses and foundations, has greater impact than ever before. We want you to join us in taking action and planting a hopeful, healthy future for all of Denver.
Many hands make a community, many trees make a forest.
Donate today to have your gift (and impact) doubled!
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Park Legacy: Fall Tribute Tree Requests OPEN
Our Park Legacy program allows you to purchase a Tribute Tree in honor of a loved one, in celebration of a special occasion, or to commemorate a milestone, and have that tree planted in one of Denver’s beautiful city parks. A Tribute Tree creates lasting, growing memories while also greening our community.
We’ve had trees planted in memory of family and friends, in commemoration of weddings and graduations, and we’ve even had a tree planted in honor of a beloved wild turkey in the community named Henrietta.
A Park Legacy Tribute Tree is more than just a tree. It is a living representation of the love we share. If you're interested in buying a Tribute Tree, please visit our website to learn more about how to plant your legacy in Denver.
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Community Resources
Did you know our new website has free tree care, landscaping, and community resources that you can access to help green your yard and neighborhood? We encourage you to peruse our Resources Page!
We'll be periodically updating this page season by season, and if you can't find what you're looking for, email mack...@theparkpeople.org to request that certain resources or information be added.
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The Park People's efforts to strengthen Denver's urban forest and address the city's tree equity gap through our Denver Digs Trees program is made possible by support from incredible, community-driven partners.
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The Park People is a nonprofit organization working with communities
to plant trees and improve parks for a healthy, resilient future.
Since 1969, we have engaged our community in completing more than 50 capital improvement projects in parks and planting more than 70,000 trees that provide $75 million in community benefits. Home of park improvement projects and the Denver Digs Trees, Mile High Tree Champions, Community Forester, TreeForce, and Park Legacy programs.
The Park People | 450 Decatur Street | Denver, CO 80204
303.722.6262 | www.TheParkPeople.org
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