It’s HOT — and Getting Hotter!

Have you noticed more hot days lately? You’re not imagining it. Rising temperatures are here to stay in the Midwest, and that means higher air conditioning bills, increased health risks, less walkable neighborhoods, and green spaces that are too uncomfortable to enjoy. But together, we can take action to cool our community.

One simple, powerful solution? Planting and caring for more trees. Trees provide life-saving shade, reduce the urban heat island effect, and make our neighborhoods more livable — for everyone.

Sign up for a FREE TREE and help bring more shade and comfort to your block — or help connect a Hamline Midway neighbor to this opportunity. Once enrolled, the Free Trees program will guide you in selecting the right tree and planting site, support the planting process, and provide follow-up care to ensure your tree thrives.

Launched in 2021, the Free Trees program is addressing environmental inequities caused by uneven tree coverage and helping Midway residents prepare for a hotter future. Hundreds of trees have already been planted — let’s keep growing a cooler, greener, and more resilient neighborhood, together.

NEW starting in 2025, Free Trees will also help neighbors obtain a no-cost city permit to plant shade trees on the boulevards if requests come in before the priority deadline.