Oakley qualifies for free trees through Cincinnati Parks giveaway

Oakley residents can get a free tree worth $75 through Cincinnati Parks' Fall ReLeaf program, which has placed the neighborhood on its priority list because of low canopy coverage.

Oakley's tree canopy sits at just 26%, according to the city's 2021 Tree Canopy Census. The Fall ReLeaf program targets neighborhoods below 40%, a threshold Cincinnati Parks considers ideal for balancing environmental benefits with city infrastructure. Madisonville, Bond Hill and Walnut Hills are also on the priority list, WCPO first reported Wednesday, Sept. 23.

Applications are already open. Priority neighborhoods got early access starting Sept. 12, and all Cincinnati residents became eligible Sept. 19. Property owners can register at the Cincinnati Parks registration page.

Garrett Dienno of Cincinnati Parks said 40% was determined to be the threshold that maximizes benefits without harming infrastructure. "Forty percent was kind of determined to be that threshold at which you get the most benefits," Dienno said.

Howard Miller of the city's Office of Environment and Sustainability said there can be a 5- to 10-degree temperature difference between areas with 10% canopy and those with 50%. One large canopy tree such as an oak or sycamore can help manage 400 to 1,000 gallons of stormwater, according to Cincinnati Parks.

The program has run for 38 years and distributed more than 27,000 trees since 1988. Between 2010 and 2020, Cincinnati's overall canopy grew from 38% to 43%.

This year's program offers eight species: Sugar Maple, Buttonbush, Flowering Dogwood, Persimmon, Spicebush, Sweetbay Magnolia, Hoptree (Wafer Ash) and Willow Oak. Residents with questions about which tree fits their yard can call Cincinnati Parks at 513-861-9070.