'Trees for Tomorrow' will focus on rebuilding Omaha's canopy

Keep Omaha Beautiful and several partners have launched a new program, Trees for Tomorrow, to rebuild and enhance the resilience of the city's tree canopy.

The group has spent the last five years planting more than 3,700 diverse trees in public spaces and it will expand on those efforts through a partnership with the City of Omaha's Public Works, Parks and Recreation and Urban Planning Departments, as well as private donors.

Over the next several years, Trees for Tomorrow will continue to strengthen Omaha's urban tree canopy by adding thousands of diverse tree species throughout parks and trails, within city-owned right-of-way spaces and other public areas.

Keep Omaha Beautiful plans to engage the community through public tree-planting events and conversations and educational activities to encourage residents to learn about and interact with trees, an integral part of the urban ecosystem.

"The ongoing partnership between Omaha Parks and Recreation and Keep Omaha Beautiful strengthens both of our organizations," Matt Kalcevich, director of City of Omaha's parks and recreation, said in a press release. "Our goal is to plant more trees around the city, and do so responsibly and sustainably."

Keep Omaha Beautiful and its partners kicked off the effort by planting 75 new trees in Elkhorn's Ta-Ha-Zouka Park this weekend. The planting event was sponsored by Kiewit and the Nebraska Environmental Trust.

Saturday's tree-planting volunteers consisted of Elkhorn community members who wanted to get involved after their neighborhoods were devastated by tornadoes in early 2024.

"Many areas of Omaha have been hit hard by storms this year, which has left community members feeling powerless,"Elkhorn resident Tyler Curnes said. "The opportunity to work with Keep Omaha Beautiful in replanting trees that were lost has helped us look to the future and collectively heal."

Emily Hergenrader, tree program manager for Keep Omaha Beautiful, said planting a diverse range of native species will help the city's canopy better withstand the changing climate.

"It has become clear, especially this year, that building a stronger and more resilient tree canopy is vital for securing a healthier and more sustainable future for our city," she said.

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