Parks expands in‑house tree‑planting pilot after team planted 1,800 trees in Queens Village
May 28, 2026 | New York City Council, New York City, New York County, New York
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DPR’s forestry team told the Council that a small in‑house tree‑planting pilot has delivered measurable results and will receive additional support in the FY27 executive budget.
"We've been running an in‑house tree planting pilot for at least the last year," Assistant Commissioner Ben Osborne said, adding that a 13‑person team has planted more than 1,800 trees to date in Queens Village and is now being increased with funded headcount and OTPS in the executive plan.
Why it matters: The pilot tests whether DPR can lower costs and increase control over planting schedules and species selection by performing work directly rather than relying exclusively on contractors. The agency said the pilot has stabilized and in some cases reduced contracted planting costs and that expanding the in‑house team could allow more timely planting in high‑need neighborhoods.
Operational details: DPR said the executive plan includes funding for 19 positions tied to the in‑house pilot and related forestry management lines; hiring is expected early in the fiscal year and the agency anticipates planting ‘‘over a thousand trees every year’’ once the expanded team is fully on board. The pilot has focused on a high‑heat‑vulnerability area of Queens Village so far.
Constraints and caveats: DPR emphasized planting volume remains weather‑ and season‑dependent, and the agency noted that exact planting counts will vary year to year. Council members asked for a timeline and titles for the new positions; DPR said titles will include gardener and APSW roles and supervisory staff and that more specific staffing allocations will be provided as hiring progresses.
Next steps: DPR said it will report back to the committee with outcomes after the second year of the pilot and provide follow‑up details about projected annual planting rates and how the in‑house team affects contracted costs.
Sources: Assistant Commissioner Ben Osborne and Commissioner Trisha Shimamura at the Parks & Recreation Committee FY27 executive budget hearing.
"We've been running an in‑house tree planting pilot for at least the last year," Assistant Commissioner Ben Osborne said, adding that a 13‑person team has planted more than 1,800 trees to date in Queens Village and is now being increased with funded headcount and OTPS in the executive plan.
Why it matters: The pilot tests whether DPR can lower costs and increase control over planting schedules and species selection by performing work directly rather than relying exclusively on contractors. The agency said the pilot has stabilized and in some cases reduced contracted planting costs and that expanding the in‑house team could allow more timely planting in high‑need neighborhoods.
Operational details: DPR said the executive plan includes funding for 19 positions tied to the in‑house pilot and related forestry management lines; hiring is expected early in the fiscal year and the agency anticipates planting ‘‘over a thousand trees every year’’ once the expanded team is fully on board. The pilot has focused on a high‑heat‑vulnerability area of Queens Village so far.
Constraints and caveats: DPR emphasized planting volume remains weather‑ and season‑dependent, and the agency noted that exact planting counts will vary year to year. Council members asked for a timeline and titles for the new positions; DPR said titles will include gardener and APSW roles and supervisory staff and that more specific staffing allocations will be provided as hiring progresses.
Next steps: DPR said it will report back to the committee with outcomes after the second year of the pilot and provide follow‑up details about projected annual planting rates and how the in‑house team affects contracted costs.
Sources: Assistant Commissioner Ben Osborne and Commissioner Trisha Shimamura at the Parks & Recreation Committee FY27 executive budget hearing.
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