Parks & Recreation » Forestry » GGCP Springfield

Greening the Gateway Cities

Great News! All of Springfield is Eligible for Free Trees!

Greening the Gateway Cities Springfield (GGC Springfield or GGCP) was created to increase tree coverage in urban areas in Massachusetts. It is a partnership between the City of Springfield Forestry Division and the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR).

MA DCR has expanded the planting zone, and now homeowners, business owners, and renters all across Springfield can get free trees on their property to shade your home, parking lot, porch, or building.

Residents can request a visit with a forester for trees by dialing 3-1-1 if you are in the city, or 413-736-3111 if you are outside the city. We do site visits year-round so it's always a good time to request a tree! CALL TODAY! You can also use Springfield's online 3-1-1 system.

These trees are FREE, the only requirement is a Two-Year Watering Agreement, which says you will water the trees weekly between April to November for the first two years after planting.

Check out some of the trees we offer here!

Benefits of Trees

Trees provide many benefits to you, your community, the environment, and the planet. Here are some examples of how trees can benefit you:

Provide shade to you and your home, lowering your cooling costs in the Summer
Clean the air, reducing airborne pollutants
Absorb stormwater runoff, reducing standing water and flooding
Increase property value
Create sound and sight barriers, improving privacy
Absorb CO2 and produce fresh oxygen, cooling the planet and making fresh air to breath

Check out the image below for even more reasons to love trees!