Hennepin County prioritizes tree planting and forest investments in historically underserved neighborhoods, addressing canopy gaps tied to redlining and heat-island disparities.
Hennepin County's Climate Action Plan and Tree Resource Strategy direct planting resources to communities with lower canopy cover and higher heat-island indices, especially in Minneapolis Phillips, north Minneapolis, and parts of Brooklyn Center and Brooklyn Park. The county partners with Tree Trust, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, and watershed districts to plant boulevard and park trees. Equity criteria consider race, income, and pollution burden. Funding comes from county levy dollars, state grants, and Inflation Reduction Act forestry awards. Residents in priority blocks may receive free yard trees, mulch, and watering bags through county and partner programs.
There are no resident penalties; non-compliance by contractors with planting standards can lead to grant clawbacks.
See how Hennepin County's urban forest equity rules stack up against other locations.
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