The City of Harrisonburg recognizes the value of green infrastructure to our community. Through Harrisonburg's Urban Forestry Program, City staff work to increase tree canopy in Harrisonburg improving the air we breathe, reducing urban noise, filtering our water, helping control stormwater runoff, providing shade and habitat for a wide variety of living things, and enhancing the beauty our urban landscapes.

To manage and improve the City’s Urban Forests, the Public Works Department utilizes the skills of five certified arborists on staff, three of which are International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ).

 

Harrisonburg’s Urban Forestry Management Plan

In 2022 the Harrisonburg Urban Forestry Program under the management of Harrisonburg Public Works received the Governors Environmental Excellence Gold Award for the City's Urban Forestry Management Plan. The City of Harrisonburg has a vision that its urban forest is safe, efficient to maintain, complements its development goals, delivers equitable benefits, and enhances the character and livability of the city. To accomplish goals to realize this vision, a comprehensive urban forest management plan is required. This plan was developed to assist Harrisonburg to better understanding its urban forest’s composition, structure, and tree maintenance needs as well as plan for both short-term and long-term resource allocation and develop risk management strategies. The City is working through a Urban Forestry Management plan that was created in 2021, planting a diverse selection of trees not exceeding 10% of each species, one of the primary goals of the nine action steps found in the plan. Staff plants and maintains an average of 300 trees annually in the City. 

Urban Forest Management Master Plan [4MB]

Tree Care and Maintenance In Your Own Yard

City Resources

  • Looking to plant trees in your yard? Check out the City's HCAP (Harrisonburg Conservation Assistance Program)! HCAP is a cost share reimbursement program aimed at assisting eligible landowners with their stormwater concerns. HCAP will pay 100% of your estimated cost up to $3,500 to plant new or replant lost trees! More information may be found on our HCAP webpage.

  • Contact your Harrisonburg City Arborists for tree care recommendations by emailing Jeremy.Harold@harrisonburgva.gov

     

Hiring an Arborist

Tree Planting and Care

What Not to Do

 

Harrisonburg Urban Wood Utilization Program

Since 2018, Harrisonburg has been adjusting to the effects the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) pest on ash trees in Harrisonburg. Harrisonburg removed a significant amount of ash in Harrisonburg and treated some ash through the Virginia Department of Forestry’s (VADOF) Cost Share Program. Through the removal of these ash trees, a program was created to upcycle and give new life to trees that are at the end of their biological life in Harrisonburg. The Harrisonburg Urban Wood Utilization program was created in 2018. For more information, please visit the Harrisonburg Urban Wood Utilization Program webpage.  

 

Urban Forestry Resources

The City of Harrisonburg focuses on the care and management of trees and tree populations for the purpose of improving our urban environment. Efforts and city projects relating to urban forestry advocates the role of trees as a critical part of Harrisonburg's urban infrastructure. Participation with local related organizations and current efforts within the city include:

City Efforts:

Partner Efforts: 

Featured Articles and Media Coverage

For more information about Harrisonburg Public Works Urban Forestry and Urban Wood Utilization efforts contact Jeremy.Harold@harrisonburgva.gov. 

Related Pages
Public Works