Cleveland was once known as The Forest City, but the city has lost approximately half of its tree canopy since the 1950s. Today, tree canopy covers just 18% of Cleveland, and an estimated 75 acres of canopy are lost each year. Without continued investment and action, that coverage could decline even further.
Northwest Neighborhoods is working to change that.
Through neighborhood tree planting initiatives, community partnerships, and ongoing maintenance, Northwest Neighborhoods CDC (NWN) is committed to restoring the urban tree canopy throughout Cudell, Detroit-Shoreway, and Edgewater. Our work focuses on bringing trees back to streets and public spaces where they are needed most, creating healthier, more welcoming neighborhoods for current and future residents.
Trees do more than beautify our streets. They provide shade, improve air quality, absorb stormwater, reduce the effects of extreme heat, and make neighborhoods more comfortable for pedestrians, cyclists, and residents of all ages. Investing in our urban forest is an investment in the long-term health, sustainability, and vitality of our communities.
Working Together to Restore Cleveland's Urban Forest
Northwest Neighborhoods partners with the Cleveland Tree Coalition to expand and preserve Cleveland's urban forest. The Coalition brings together public, private, and community organizations to advance the goals of the Cleveland Tree Plan and work toward a healthier, more equitable urban canopy.
Through this partnership, NWN identifies priority planting locations, coordinates community engagement, secures resources, and supports the long-term care of newly planted trees.
Our planting locations are strategically selected based on neighborhood tree plans and areas of greatest need. This includes vacant tree lawns where additional canopy is needed, as well as locations where trees have been lost due to roadway improvements, public utility work, or construction projects.
With more than $60,000 secured for neighborhood street tree plantings in 2026, Northwest Neighborhoods is continuing its investment in restoring the tree canopy and making our streets greener.
Making an Impact in Our Neighborhoods
Since 2020, Northwest Neighborhoods has made tree canopy restoration a priority in its neighborhood improvement work. Between 2020 and 2023, the organization supported the planting of 214 new trees in Cudell and Detroit-Shoreway, with approximately $145,000 invested in these efforts.
Past planting initiatives have included West 65th Street, Lake Avenue, West 85th Street, and Detroit Avenue, helping restore tree lawns and bring greenery back to neighborhood streets.
Our work prioritizes areas with significant gaps in tree canopy, particularly along streets and public spaces where additional trees can make a meaningful difference.
Our Current Project: Madison Avenu
One of our current initiatives focuses on restoring the tree canopy along Madison Avenue, from West 65th Street to West Boulevard, connecting the neighborhoods of Cudell and Detroit-Shoreway.
Identified as a priority in Northwest Neighborhoods' 2020 neighborhood tree plan, this corridor contains long stretches of vacant tree lawns and significant opportunities to bring back the tree canopy.
With support from the 2026 Cleveland Tree Coalition grant, Northwest Neighborhoods is coordinating a project that will:
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Plant 36 new street trees along Madison Avenue in previously vacant tree lawns.
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Support an additional 14 trees at Miriam Ortiz-Rush Park through a separate planting partnership with the Evangelical Environmental Network and the City of Cleveland.
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Provide three years of establishment maintenance to help newly planted trees grow and thrive.
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Continue caring for 101 previously grant-funded trees along West 65th Street, Lake Avenue, Detroit Avenue, and West 85th Street/Franklin Boulevard through an additional transition year of maintenance.
Together, the Madison Avenue and park plantings will add 50 trees to the area, while continued maintenance will support a total of 137 new and existing trees.
Madison Avenue connects two RTA Red Line stations with neighborhood parks, recreation facilities, schools, and local businesses. Restoring the tree canopy along this important corridor will provide additional shade, help reduce extreme heat, improve air quality, and create a more welcoming streetscape for everyone who travels through the neighborhood.
More About Our Tree Planting
