Bloomington, Indiana – Bloomington’s public tree canopy is getting a steady makeover, one planting, pruning and removal at a time. During the first half of 2026 alone, city crews planted 201 trees, pruned 265 and inspected nearly 3,700 as part of a long-term effort to make the urban forest healthier and more resilient.
The work extends well beyond adding new trees. Bloomington is managing roughly 24,000 trees across parks, medians, rights-of-way and other city-controlled property, while also confronting aging trees, invasive species, storm risks and the continuing effects of emerald ash borer.
Between January and June, crews removed 98 dead, dying or hazardous trees and assessed 530 ash trees. Another 49 trees identified through the city inventory are scheduled for removal by the end of 2026 because of structural problems, pests, disease or storm damage.
Read also: Bloomington Animal Shelter launches matching fundraiser that could raise $40,000 for medical care
At the same time, Bloomington has planted 27 native species or native cultivars this year. Urban Forester Haskell Smith said location plays a major role in deciding what goes where.
“For example, catalpa doesn’t make a great street tree,” Smith said. “But near the Rogers Family Park prairie, it will eventually be a good source of food for bees and hummingbirds, and a favored nesting site for woodpeckers and owls.”
Crews are also steadily removing Callery pear trees, an invasive species known for spreading into natural areas and breaking during storms. Since 2022, the city has removed an average of 76 Callery pears each year. They now account for about 3.8% of Bloomington’s public tree inventory, and only about five larger than 30 inches in diameter remain.
Read also: Bloomington offers up to $2,400 for community projects that get residents moving without cars
Grant funding is helping accelerate the work. A $100,000 Catalyst Fund grant awarded in 2023 has doubled Bloomington’s budget for proactive storm-resilience pruning over four years. Priority corridors have included College Avenue, Walnut Street, Woodlawn Street, Henderson Street and West Kirkwood Avenue.
A separate $50,000 State Urban Forest Resilience Grant awarded in February allowed staff to evaluate hundreds of public ash trees. Of the 530 assessed, 308 were healthy enough for treatment. Another 140 trees already receiving treatment were not part of the assessment.
“The SUFR grant has given us the ability to take a hard look at our public ash trees: Their health, persistent problems, and their future,” Smith said.
The city ultimately aims to maintain about 250 ash trees that can be sustainably protected over time while replacing unhealthy trees with native species.
Residents can view Bloomington’s live public tree inventory, learn more through the city’s urban forestry website, or report a hazardous tree on public property.
