Conway, AR Tree Protection: Parkway Planting (2026)

Conway does not set planting specifications like species lists or curb-line spacing for street trees in its municipal code; instead, Chapter 5.36 protects the status of trees once they exist in the public right-of-way. Section 5.36.05.A declares that any tree planted on public property automatically becomes City of Conway property, converting what a resident or developer plants along a street, alley or easement into a municipal asset the Tree Board oversees. Subsection B gives the City of Conway and Conway Corporation, the city's electric and water utility, joint authority to prune, maintain and remove trees, plants and shrubs within the rights-of-way of every street, alley, avenue, lane, square and public or private easement whenever necessary for public safety or to preserve the area's symmetry and beauty, and requires that pruning follow American National Standards Institute standards.

Subsection C lets the City, Conway Corporation, or any franchised public utility remove a right-of-way tree that is unsafe or that injures sewers, power lines, gas lines, water lines or drainage. The flip side of that municipal authority is subsection D's restriction on everyone else: it is unlawful for any person to destroy, transplant or remove a public tree in Conway without first getting permission from both the Tree Board and the City Council. The nine-member Tree Board, appointed by the Mayor with City Council approval under Section 5.36.03, also selects the tree species planted near utility lines to cut down on future pruning needs. Emergency storm damage and disaster pruning are exempted from the standard approval process under subsection E.