Mayor Zohran Mamdani and NYC Parks Commissioner Tricia Shimamura have announced the city planted over 18,000 trees in city parks in Fiscal Year 2026, with many of those plantings taking place in nine different neighborhoods across Queens.
The 18,261 trees represent the most trees that the city has planted in a fiscal year since 2016 and represents an effort to accelerate tree planting in communities most vulnerable to extreme heat.
The city planted trees in Queens neighborhoods, including Hunters Point, Sunnyside, Long Island City, Elmhurst, Laurelton, St. Albans, South Ozone Park, Queens Village and Cambria Heights, targeting communities that historically boasted less tree coverage than the citywide average.
The initiative is part of plans to increase the city’s tree canopy and advance the goals of the Urban Forest Plan, which aims to expand canopy coverage to cover 30% of the city by 2040.
“Our administration is building a city where every neighborhood can find cool shade on a hot day, breathe clean air and enjoy the beauty of a healthy tree canopy,” Mamdani said in a statement. “Access to green space and relief from extreme heat should not depend on your ZIP code.”
Mamdani added that planting more trees, especially in neighborhoods that need them most, will help make the city cooler for all New Yorkers, while also beautifying the five boroughs.
Shimamura, meanwhile, said the high number of plantings is proof that NYC Parks is “facing the challenge of climate resiliency head on.”
“New Yorkers rely on our trees to provide vital shade, and with climate change leading to more frequent, intense heat, the need is more prevalent than ever,” Shimamura said. “Our team of expert foresters and arborists is putting NYC Parks at the cutting edge of urban forestry, helping us plant smarter and target the neighborhoods that need shade and relief from extreme heat the most.”
Louise Yeung, the city’s chief climate officer, said the Urban Forest Plan aims to plant in neighborhoods that need them the most in order to create a healthier and more resilient New York.
“New Yorkers rely on our trees to provide vital shade, and with climate change leading to more frequent, intense heat, the need is more prevalent than ever,” Yeung said.
NYC Parks said it reached record numbers in FY2026 by starting earlier than usual, partnering with nurseries to build a larger supply of trees before planting season. The agency also harvested many trees before spring bud-break and kept newly-planted trees watered and mulched throughout the summer.
The agency aims to use the same strategy to get ahead of the coming fall planting season.
The city is currently home to more than 7 million trees spanning more than 100 species.