Parks Citywide Services is a division of Kansas City, Mo., Parks and Recreation Department. We oversee the management of the City's trees in the right-of-ways located along streets and boulevards. Our management philosophy is a holistic approach in managing the urban forest. In addition to performing the actual service, our foresters can issue permits to citizens to perform some of these services themselves. There is no cost to the resident for obtaining a tree permit for pruning, removal and planting of trees.

Storm response
We are prepared to respond to any emergency involving city street trees 24 hours a day. Generally, emergencies involving street trees result from severe thunder, wind, snow and rain storms. We initially respond to an emergency by dispatching an urban forester to the problem location. If necessary, a crew will be called upon to assist with the problem. During a large storm, several crews may be dispatched. This could include both City crews and emergency contract crews from the private sector. Should there be damage or loss of property, the urban forester will process a City Damage Report.

Tree pruning
Tree pruning is the most frequently requested service we provide. Pruning is done by city and contractor crews. Over the past two years, a systematic method of pruning has been developed to address individual service requests while pruning entire city blocks in a cyclical manner.

Tree planting
Working with limited funds, we actively pursue tree planting funds through various grant programs and work closely with the Kessler Society to provide low-cost trees for citizens interested in planting trees in city right-of-ways. Although funds may not be available for your council district, our staff will be happy to place your name on a waiting list should funds become available for your request. We also can issue a tree planting permit to citizens interested in planting a tree themselves.

Tree removal
Kansas City has what is termed a "mature" urban forest. A mature forest will have large, stately trees that create an attractive appearance of arched or cathedral ceilings along streets. However, because we have a mature forest, many of these trees are very old and may go into "decline." Thus our foresters identify trees that have become hazardous (partially dead, completely dead or structurally unstable) and schedules them for removal These removals are performed by our crews and outside contractors. Learn more about Forestry Operations.

Cooperative projects
Citywide Services works with a variety of public and private utility agencies to ensure utility issues that have a direct impact on city trees will be appropriately handled. We are actively working with the Public Works Department, Water Department, Kansas City Power and Light, and Missouri Gas and Energy.

Landscaping and greenhouse operation
The purpose of the landscaping and greenhouse operation is to maintain and beautify the boulevard and parkway system, parks and other City properties for the citizens and visitors of Kansas City.

The landscaping and greenhouse operation installs and maintains flower beds to beautify City properties. Some of the flower beds are installed in a joint effort with Swope Parkway Neighborhood Association and Loose Park Gardens. The maintenance of these flower beds involves mowing around the beds, weeding, watering, fertilizing and removing spent blossoms from the plants. The goal of the operation is to have all beds installed by July 1 and provide regular maintenance five to six times per season. Another goal is to convent a minimum of 15 beds per year from annual to perennial plants. Flower beds are used in the parkways and boulevards systems and as part of the streetscape design on important roadways and intersections in the city. Flower beds help provide incentives for neighborhood cleanups and are educational tools for good landscape techniques. A higher quality of urban design in the urban landscape is provided by the flower beds. The greenhouse operation works with neighborhood associations on special projects.

The greenhouse operation was established with the construction of the first greenhouse in 1916.

Kansas City, MO: The City of Kansas City, Missouri is undertaking a multiyear climate protection plan to address the challenges posed by climate change. The plan includes the goal of adding 120,000 additional trees to the city’s landscape over the next ten years.

While trees are very beautiful, they are a vital part of the metro’s infrastructure, providing many benefits, including stormwater reduction, improved air quality, higher real estate values (and property tax receipts), carbon storage, and energy savings. This is not a nice extra in city budgets; it is vital maintenance that actually saves cities money in the long run. Trees don't cost us money - trees pay us back many times over.

In order to assist in this forward-thinking tree planting effort, Heartland Tree Alliance, an affiliate of Bridging The Gap, will partner with Kansas City, Missouri Parks and Recreation to coordinate volunteers in teams of two or more to identify potential tree planting sites using maps of the city. Volunteers will be thoroughly trained in the criteria used to identify appropriate sites.

Please join us in this important effort to support Kansas City’s Climate Protection Plan! For information or to sign up, contact Angela Schreffler, 816-561-1061, ext. 110 or e-mail angela.schreffler@bridgingthegap.org. For more information on Kansas City’s Climate Protection Plan, contact Forest Decker at 816-513-9575 or email forest_decker@kcmo.org.

For more information on Kansas City’s Climate Protection Plan, contact Forest Decker at 816-513-9575 or email .

Heartland Tree Alliance is the culmination of the efforts of many organizations, individuals and businesses that have been working on urban forestry issues in the Greater Kansas City region for many years, and is an affiliate of Bridging The Gap, an action and education environmental organization working to make the Kansas City region sustainable. Bridging The Gap seeks to connect businesses, governments, and communities as partners for change. Find out more and take action at www.bridgingthegap.org.

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