Secretary Dunn together with Harrisburg Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams, staff, and volunteers planted 33 trees including oaks, serviceberry, and eastern redbuds.
“The trees we plant today will stand long after us. They’ll make our neighborhoods healthier, our air cleaner, and our future a little brighter,” said Secretary Dunn.
The trees were provided by the TreePennsylvania Bare-Root Tree Programand the City of Harrisburg.
This fall the program is providing 1,100 trees to 51 communities in the Commonwealth through a combination of a $500,000 DCNR grant, private donations, and federal funds.
Since 2023, more than 225 trees, predominantly native species, have been planted with volunteers in Harrisburg in regular planting events in the spring and fall.
“Every tree we plant is an investment in the health and hope of our city,” said Harrisburg Mayor Wanda R.D. Williams. “These new plantings are more than beautification -- they represent our commitment to cleaner air, cooler neighborhoods, and stronger communities. I am grateful to Secretary Dunn, TreePennsylvania, and the many volunteers who continue to make Harrisburg greener, one tree at a time.”
Trees and forests play a vital role in addressing climate change as they pull in and store carbon (a process that also helps with clean air), as well as reducing energy costs, slowing runoff after storms, reducing noise, and attracting birds and wildlife.
DCNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program helps build capacity within communities to plan for, plant, and care for trees.
In 2024 alone, the Shapiro Administration invested $10.5 million in grants for tree planting in communities and along streams, and lawn-to-habitat conversions-- advancing Governor Josh Shapiro’s vision to strengthen communities while driving regional economic growth through projects that enrich cultural, civic, recreational, and historic places throughout Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvanians can support tree planting efforts by donating to the Keystone Tree Fund through an online form or a voluntary $3 check-off on driver’s license and vehicle registration renewals.
The fund supports grants for community tree plantings and streamside forests.
For more information, visit DCNR’s Urban and Community Forestry webpage.
Click Here for the DCNR announcement.
Visit Explore PA Trails and Get Outdoors PA for recreation areas near you.
Visit the PA Parks & Forests Foundation’s Events webpage and DCNR’s Calendar of Events for activities happening near you.
For more information on state parks and forests and recreation in Pennsylvania, visit DCNR’s website. Click Here to sign up for the Resource newsletter.
Related Articles This Week:
-- DCNR Highlights $500,000 Investment In Planting Trees To Add Shade, Reduce Stormwater Runoff, Create Green Spaces [PaEN]
-- North Branch Land Trust Receives Healing The Planet Grant From The GIANT Company, Keep PA Beautiful To Support Native Tree Planting In Luzerne County [PaEN]
-- DCNR Grants: Grant Workshop Video Available On-Demand; Wildfire Fighting Grants; Bedford County Recreation Coordinator; Pine Creek Rail Trail Connection
-- DCNR State Parks Environmental Education News Highlights Fall Lessons, Activities, Educator Workshops [PaEN]
-- William Penn Foundation Renews $12.9 Million Commitment To Expanding Circuit Trails In Greater Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey [PaEN]
-- Apply Now! Spring Pennsylvania Master Naturalist Training Now Available In 9 Counties Across The State [PaEN]
NewsClips:
-- Altoona Mirror - Robert Swift: Population Growth Sparks Uncertainty For Michaux State Forest In Southcentral PA [PDF of Article]
-- The Allegheny Front: How Falling Leaves Have Lasting Impact In Point State Park And Beyond Helping Insects, Wildlife
-- Post-Gazette Editorial: New Pittsburgh Mayor Should Build On Greenways Success Stories
-- WNEP: One Man Dead After ATV Crash In Wayne County
[Posted: November 14, 2025] PA Environment Digest
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