La Crescent Expands Tree Canopy with Free Boulevard Tree Program

LA CRESCENT, MINN – The Driftless region offers picturesque, panoramic vistas of verdant greenery each spring with a lush tree canopy.

The continuing existence of this canopy without any human intervention, however, is something that could easily be taken for granted. Everything from storms to pestilence to fires to urbanization and deforestation pose risks to its survival. 

In February, Minnesota published its 2026 Climate Action Framework. One of the environmental goals for “cooler, safer communities” is to achieve 30% tree canopy coverage in all Minnesota communities by 2030 and 40% by 2050.

To help reach that goal, in 2025 the Minnesota Legislature allocated another $7 million to the ReLeaf Community Forestry grant program to improve community forest health. It is one of two state grant programs to help communities plant and maintain trees. 

La Crescent received one of the state’s 2024 ReLeaf grants for its Boulevard Tree Program which must be used by June 30, 2027. 

A tree canopy provides shade and cools air temperatures to reduce the urban heat island effect. (Photo by Rose Korabek)

Launched on Arbor Day, the city opened applications for the 2026 batch of free boulevard trees. “Boulevard trees are an essential part of the landscape, providing a range of benefits to residents, including improved air quality, cleaner stormwater and improved mental health,” said Jason Ludwigson, La Crescent Sustainability Coordinator. “The city is planting 89 trees this year, and it planted 173 in 2025 with the ReLeaf grant.”

Led by Ludwigson, a team of city staff and dedicated volunteers proactively manage the tree population of “The Apple Capital of Minnesota”. The city also participates in the University of Minnesota’s Tree Steward Community Program, and it has received the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA designation for the past nine years. 

According to the Arbor Day Foundation, “trees do so much for our communities. Regardless of why a neighborhood tree gets planted in the first place, it offers profound layers of good. With more people moving to urban areas, trees help us keep pace and ensure our growing communities remain healthy. Trees clean our air, cool our cities and safeguard us from stronger storms. They also create a home for birds, bugs and critters, which bring a neighborhood to life. Trees in our yards and parks strengthen neighborhood bonds that lead to happier and safer communities, too.” To learn more about the benefits of trees, see CityofLaCrescent-MN.gov/boulevard-trees.

Jason Ludwigson installs a trunk guard to prevent rodents from chewing on the young bark. (Photo by Rose Korabek)

These are important steps to help to meet the state’s tree canopy goal, but there is still much to be done. Reforestation Hub data shows there are up to 2.6 million acres of opportunity in Minnesota to restore forest cover for climate mitigation. Reforesting these areas could capture 2.9 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, equivalent to removing 628,000 cars from the road annually. 

Free boulevard trees now available for 2026

The Boulevard Tree Program is for La Crescent residents and property owners who can apply by completing the online application. Trees must be planted in the boulevard and can’t be planted where overhead utility lines are present. This year’s species include white oak, serviceberry, blue beech, linden, Chinkapin oak, Valley Forge American elm, sugar maple and honey locust. 

“The goal of the program is to provide street trees to residents who lack trees within the right-of-way along their properties at no cost,” said Ludwigson. “The city provides the tree; you provide the care. A tree will be planted for you in the right-of-way along your property, and a watering bag will be provided at no cost to you. We will accept applications until all of the trees are reserved.”

Planting of the trees is scheduled to run through June 15; the city has already planted 32 trees. Once planted, the boulevard tree is the responsibility of the homeowner. For specific details on tree care and planting standards, see the La Crescent’s 2025 tree ordinance. 

Sonja Tosteson, left, and Ryan Murphy, third from right, led the Minnesota Tree Steward volunteering training. (Photo by Rose Korabek)

University of Minnesota’s Tree Steward Community Program 

“We need to take care of the trees because trees take care of us,” said Betsy Knowles, a La Crescent Tree Steward volunteer. “There’s lots of energy at planting, but they need to be maintained. It’s a way for me to be outside.”

Knowles was part of a group that attended a free training seminar offered by the University of Minnesota’s Tree Steward Community Program on Saturday, May 2. The class met in the morning at the La Crescent Community Center then continued outside before taking a lunch break. After lunch, the group had hands-on experience planting two trees and pruning another at John S. Harris Park.

“It was the third time I’ve taken the training, but you always learn something new,” said Knowles.

Greg Watson, who like Knowles has been a tree steward since the La Crescent program’s inception, said he got involved because he “thought it was interesting. I hike a lot. I want to give back to the city.” 

A key step is ensuring the tree is straight upright after planting, which took several attempts. (Photo by Rose Korabek)

Ryan Murphy, UMN Urban Forestry programs manager, and Sonja Tosteson, UMN Urban and Community Forestry volunteer and partnerships coordinator, led the training program. Tosteson said the program works with cities of all sizes and customizes its programs. She added that the La Crescent program started in 2022. It joins Rochester, Mankato, Austin and West Concord in southern Minnesota. 

Tosteson added that in this class, there were nine participants with seven of them being new, plus Ludwigson assisting. 

Tree Steward volunteers can be trained in a wide array of topics related to trees. Once volunteers are trained, the UMN hands primary leadership of the program over to local teams. This ensures that the power for change stays at the community level and that volunteer events and activities are tailored to meet regional tree care needs.

Course materials are part of the training. The training lasts 4 to 6 hours followed by a short assessment to become a certified tree steward volunteer. Volunteers then log their hours for approved projects. (Photo by Rose Korabek)

First-year participant Cindy Wright is part of the city’s Natural Resources group. She said she’s a master naturalist and added Tree Steward volunteer “to be more involved with volunteers with tree management for the city.” 

But she also did it for personal reasons to learn more about planting and maintaining trees. “It’s great to have experts come here. It was very educational. We have youth groups and different generations, so they leave the tree tags on so people know what grows in the area.”

Research shows that trees provide benefits for physical and mental health, whether doing a brisk hike through a forest or doing meditative forest bathing. (Photo by Rose Korabek)

Tree City USA designation

La Crescent has received the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA designation since 2017. Ludwigson said, “The program was started to restore lost urban tree canopy from the removal of hundreds of ash trees due to Emerald Ash Borer.”

This year the national Tree City USA program is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The Foundation’s website said, “Taking root in 1976, Tree City USA began a movement to inspire communities to prioritize planting and caring for trees. From the 42 communities recognized that first year, the program has expanded to every state across the nation.” It also highlighted several statistics: There are now 3,636 recognized Tree Cities, and 49% of Americans live in a Tree City. This program invested over $1.9 billion in trees this year and plants over one million trees annually.