Urban Forestry Management Program

BACKGROUND

The City of Tarpon Springs has been awarded several grants to create, monitor, and fully implement a Tarpon Springs Urban Forestry Program and street tree inventory.

An Urban Forestry Master Plan is an action plan that provides the City detailed information, recommendations and resources needed to effectively and proactively manage public trees.

City of Tarpon Springs Municipal Arborist, Shannon Brewer, will oversee the successful completion and implementation of the program!

SCOPE OF WORK

The Tarpon Springs Urban Forestry Program will be created within three years with each year having a specific scope of work.

YEAR 1: Hazardous and Street Tree Inventory - The inventory will document and collect data on trees on public lands for the purpose of city tree asset management.
- Phase I complete - Read the final report located in the documents tab of this page.
- Phase II complete- Read the draft Maintenance Action Plan in the documents tab of this page.
YEAR 2: Creation of an Urban Forestry Management Plan - The plan will contain a description of the community, a vision for the urban forest, a strategic plan, an implementation and a monitoring plan, and a prioritization criteria work plan for 5, 10, and 20 year cycles.
- Currently drafting plan with consultant
YEAR 3: Replanting the Urban Forest - This phase will consist of planting street trees in areas with little to no canopy coverage to provide future shade, wildlife, and returning a sense of community back to neighborhoods.

Update Announcement: 2025 Maintenance Action Plan Completed for Limb Up For Safety Program

Unfortunately, the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service has sent the Arbor Day Foundation a Termination Notice for Agreement No. 24-CA-11132544-105 for the project titled, National Pass-through Partnership for Strategic Urban Forestry Investment in Disadvantaged Communities – Inflation Reduction Act. The termination is effective immediately. As a subrecipient under this program, the City of Tarpon Springs was notified that all work must cease under our Subaward Agreement with the Arbor Day Foundation.

THANK YOU TO OUR PHASE II AND LIMB UP FOR SAFETY PARTNERS

The project team would like to thank the BOC, City Manager, staff and the USF interns who assisted during the past year.

The project team is committed to finding ways to make the community safer and greener!

URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN PROJECT

Trees are an important part of life in Tarpon Springs. They help tell the story of our city’s history, make our neighborhoods more beautiful, and improve the health and happiness of everyone who lives here. Our city already has strong rules to protect trees and landscaping, and now we’re excited to work with the community to create a new urban forestry program that everyone can be part of.

VISION STATEMENT

Our vision is to create a thriving, inclusive urban forest that protects heritage, enhances the environment, improves stormwater management, and delivers measurable, sustainable outcomes for the community of Tarpon Springs.

THANK YOU TO OUR URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN PARTNERS

The work upon which this project is based was funded, in whole or in part through a subrecipient grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The contents do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture nor does mention of trade names, commercial productions, services or organization imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.