City Contracting Process and Red Tape Push Cost of Planting a Tree to $3,300

New York City’s more than 5.7 million trees not only beautify blocks and boost property values, they also “play an increasingly important role in addressing climate change by cleaning the air, cooling streets and buildings, sopping up flood waters and capturing planet-warming carbon.” However, the “onerous city contracting processes and red tape contributes to higher than necessary costs compared to the private sector.” According to the city’s Parks Department, which is responsible for the oversight of about 53% of the city’s trees, the average cost for the city to plant a tree was $3,300 in Fiscal Year 2024, citing in comparison the $1,200 and $1,600 price that Brooklyn-based Arborpolitan Tree & Garden Care typically charges private sector clients.  Among the more than 130 different tree types sourced from local growers that the city uses for curbside planting, a survey is done for each planting spot to ensure that a tree can survive there, and its roots won’t interfere with underground infrastructure. In the past fiscal year, which ended in June, the number of new trees planted by the Parks Department marked the largest total in the last eight years, reaching more than 35,000 trees of which 7,301 new trees were planted in “heat-vulnerable neighborhoods and parks.” Other challenges include fluctuating year-to-year funding that “impacts overall operations and longer-term planning” since trees are living organisms and require planning ahead.”

Source:    https://www.crainsnewyork.com/climate/it-costs-city-3300-plant-tree-heres-why