New trees coming to city parkways

Published on May 28, 2025

Three smiling workers stand near young tree on parkway

Lakewood’s Public Works contractor West Coast Arborists will soon be planting new trees on empty parkway sites throughout the city.

That means if your parkway (the strip of land between the sidewalk and the street) doesn’t currently have a tree, there’s a good chance it will soon.

You can help by watering your parkway tree so it can grow tall and strong. Here are some tips for watering, whether you have a young or mature tree.

Here's what residents should know

Parkway trees are city property

The planting, trimming and health of parkway trees is the city’s responsibility.
Lakewood has a certified arborist on our Public Works Department team to advise on tree maintenance. Tree trims are regularly scheduled and completed by our contractor.
Residents should not trim the tree on their own but can request one if needed.
Trimming a tree without permission can lead to a large fine.

How will I know if my parkway will receive a tree?

We will be working quickly to plant as many trees as we can on empty sites and will not be able to notify each resident in advance.
We may not reach every empty site this year, but this is a multi-year effort, and we’ll continue to plant trees annually until we’ve filled in as many suitable spots as possible.

What kind of tree will I get?

Trees will be selected from the city’s approved master planting list, ensuring they are the right fit for our local environment and neighborhood aesthetics.
As parkways are city property, residents may not opt out of the tree planting program.

This citywide effort is part of Lakewood’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the health and growth of our “urban forest.” Trees offer so many benefits: they improve air quality, reduce heat, support wildlife, and even increase property values. Plus, they just make our neighborhoods look and feel better.

If you have questions or concerns about the tree planting program, feel free to contact Lakewood’s customer service team at 562-866-9771, extension 2140.