Free Trees for Kennedy Heights Yards: Cincinnati Parks Fall ReLeaf Registration Is Open
Kennedy Heights has always been a neighborhood that loves its trees, and this fall there's an easy way to add one more to your yard at no cost. Cincinnati Parks' Fall ReLeaf program is back for its 38th year, offering free trees to residents who live within Cincinnati city limits.
Over the years, Fall ReLeaf has given away 27,000 trees representing more than 40 species, and it's one of the programs that helped grow Cincinnati's tree canopy from 38% to 43% between 2010 and 2020. This year's trees are made possible by presenting sponsor MadTree Brewing, along with supporting sponsors Dynegy and the Cincinnati Parks Foundation.
Why plant a tree? Beyond making our streets and yards more beautiful, trees clean the air we breathe, support our health, and provide shade and wind protection that can help lower heating and cooling bills. Every tree planted adds to a greener, cooler neighborhood for all of us.
Who can apply? Fall ReLeaf trees are available to property owners whose planting site is within Cincinnati city limits. You can plant your tree in your front yard or backyard, but trees can't be planted in the strip between the street and the sidewalk.
Cincinnati Parks asks that you only sign up if you're ready to pick up and plant your tree. Every tree matters for our canopy, so a quick check of your schedule before registering goes a long way.
Before choosing a tree, think about how big it will be when fully grown, and look up and around for wires, utilities, or structures nearby. If you'd like help picking the right tree for your space, the Cincinnati Parks tree experts are happy to talk it through at 513-861-9070.
How to apply. Have your property's Parcel ID handy before you start, since the application asks for it. To find it, visit the Hamilton County Auditor's website, search your address, and look in the top left corner of your property page.
The form only needs the first three digits of your Parcel ID, and you'll leave off any leading zeros. For example, if your Parcel ID begins with 040, you'd enter 40. If it begins with 007, you'd enter 7. If it begins with 456, you'd enter 456.
You'll also select Kennedy Heights as your neighborhood from the dropdown menu. This year, neighborhoods with less than 40% tree canopy receive early access to registration, with applications opening more broadly afterward.
Once you apply, the Cincinnati Parks Urban Forestry team reviews each application to confirm it meets the guidelines. If anything needs to change, they'll reach out to you by email.
Picking up your tree. Trees will be available for pickup at MadTree Brewing on Wednesday, October 14, Saturday, October 17, or Monday, October 19. You'll choose your pickup day and time slot during registration. Please plan to arrive during your selected time, since any trees not picked up will be planted in Cincinnati Parks instead.
Kennedy Heights Registration beings Saturday, September 19th, 2026. Applications stay open until all available trees have been claimed, and in past years they've gone fast, so we encourage neighbors to sign up soon.
Ready to get your free tree? Visit the Cincinnati Parks website to learn more about Fall ReLeaf and complete your registration: cincinnati-oh.gov/cincyparks.
And if you know a neighbor who'd love a new tree, please pass this along. Let's keep Kennedy Heights green together!
