DES MOINES, IA – November 2, 2026 – Iowa-based environmental non-profit, Trees Forever, is hosting a celebratory tree planting and campaign launch event on Wednesday, November 4th starting at 10:00am in the Chesterfield neighborhood near the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Staff from Trees Forever and the Polk County Board of Supervisors will open with remarks celebrating the upcoming investment into the local tree canopy. Officials will then plant a ceremonial tree at the intersection of Dean Avenue and E 32nd Street to kick-off the partnership. 

The Polk County Board of Supervisors recently approved a $250,000 grant to the Trees Forever Foundation to support tree planting and distributions through the One Million Trees Central Iowa initiative. 

The grant will help Trees Forever distribute 3,000 trees to Polk County residents through nine community tree distribution events. It will also fund ten $5,000 tree-planting grants to help communities expand their urban canopies. Polk County’s investment supports trees as green infrastructure that can help reduce flood risk, lower summer temperatures and cooling costs, improve air quality, and strengthen neighborhoods. 

The One Million Trees Central Iowa initiative is a goal to plant, preserve, and create policy to expand the tree canopy in Central Iowa by one million trees through 2032. Participating counties in the initiative include Boone, Story, Marshall, Guthrie, Dallas, Polk, Jasper, Madison, Warren, and Marion. The ten-year initiative started in 2022 and is a collaboration between local governments, private organizations and businesses, and citizen volunteers.  

Media and attendees are encouraged to park along E 32nd Street. Media availability following the event.